The Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, led by state tourism chief and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, is considering building a Route 66 neon park at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Those details emerged in a Facebook post by the Oklahoma-based Billboard Museum, which hopes to eventually build its own facility in the OKC … Continue reading Route 66 neon sign park proposed at Oklahoma History Center in OKC
Category: History
Chelsea Historical Society wants to turn historic bank building into a museum
The Chelsea Area Historical Society wants to restore and convert the historic Bank of Chelsea building in downtown Chelsea, Oklahoma, into a museum. The society held a community meeting at the Chelsea Civic Center on Thursday to discuss funding options and the building's importance. According to a historical society official contacted through Facebook Messenger, a … Continue reading Chelsea Historical Society wants to turn historic bank building into a museum
New Roger Miller mural goes up in Erick
An artist recently completed a large mural paying tribute to late musician Roger Miller on a building along Route 66 in Erick, Oklahoma, that used to house his museum. Brian Lewis of Greensboro, North Carolina, painted the mural on the building on the southeast corner of the intersection of Roger Miller Boulevard (aka Route 66) … Continue reading New Roger Miller mural goes up in Erick
Newest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Six projects, including four historic sites, will receive more than $103,000 in cost-share grants from the Route 66 Corridon Preservation Program under the auspices of the National Park Service. The awards first were revealed Thursday in a social media post for the Road Runner's Retreat complex, which received a grant, near Chambless, California. Here are … Continue reading Newest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Renovations of Route 66’s Sidewalk Highway in Oklahoma to begin in 2023
A long-awaited renovation of a 9-foot-wide, century-old section of Route 66 -- better known as the Sidewalk Highway -- in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, is slated to begin sometime in 2023. According to KSNF-TV, the project is in the planning stage: “What we got is a 1920 Federal Highway which is now a national trail, and … Continue reading Renovations of Route 66’s Sidewalk Highway in Oklahoma to begin in 2023
Take a look at ABC’s “Nightline” feature on Route 66 in 1992
While looking for something else, I stumbled upon this 20-minute feature about Route 66 that aired July 3, 1992, on ABC News "Nightline" program. It's a wonderful segment. You'll see a number of businesses and people who've since departed almost 30 years later. You'll also see a younger-looking Michael Wallis, Angel Delgadillo and Delbert Trew. … Continue reading Take a look at ABC’s “Nightline” feature on Route 66 in 1992
Book review: “A Sports Fan’s Guide to Route 66”
Here's a new guidebook that takes on a previously unexplored aspect of Route 66 -- local sports teams that help unite those communities. Ron Clements' "A Sports Fan's Guide to Route 66" (Amazon link; Imbrifex Books, paperback, 352 pages, Kindle version available) takes the traditional east-to-west path on the eight states that Route 66 traverses … Continue reading Book review: “A Sports Fan’s Guide to Route 66”
Jubelt’s Bakery and Restaurant named Litchfield Business of the Year on eve of its centennial
Jubelt's Bakery and Restaurant in Litchfield, Illinois, has been named Business of the Year by that city's chamber of commerce, one year from Jubelt's 100th anniversary. Jeanmarie Jubelt, owner of Jubelt’s, told The Journal-News she was "shocked" by the honor and noted it wasn't easy staying in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The newspaper had … Continue reading Jubelt’s Bakery and Restaurant named Litchfield Business of the Year on eve of its centennial
Next phase of Oklahoma Music Trail to launch at Route 66 Heritage Festival
The next phase of the Oklahoma Music Trail will be launched this weekend at the inaugural Route 66 Heritage Festival in downtown Miami, Oklahoma. The trail currently is a well-developed website shepherded by Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who also is Oklahoma's tourism chief and a big Route 66 advocate. The Joplin Globe had details on … Continue reading Next phase of Oklahoma Music Trail to launch at Route 66 Heritage Festival
Century-old picnic table returned to Camp Cajon site
A 100-year-old concrete picnic table that once stood at Camp Cajon, a former Route 66 rest stop in Southern California, was returned to the site last month. According to an article in the San Bernardino County Sun, the table stood for 80 years at Lytle Creek Park in San Bernardino. It also had this history … Continue reading Century-old picnic table returned to Camp Cajon site