The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, which contains a network of PBS stations across the state, recently aired a 28-minute "Gallery America" segment about Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan and effervescent Arcadia Round Barn volunteer "Mr. Sam" Gillaspy. The program is well-produced. Check it out below: McClanahan's art gallery just off Route 66 in … Continue reading Program features Route 66 artist Jerry McClanahan, Round Barn volunteer Mr. Sam
Category: History
Tulsa gives on up on trying to save Brookshire Motel, will try to save sign instead
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission has given up trying to save the closed Brookshire Motel after a fire scorched it for the third time in 15 months. It instead will focus on trying to buy and preserve its neon sign. A man's body was found on the property after the latest fire last week. According … Continue reading Tulsa gives on up on trying to save Brookshire Motel, will try to save sign instead
New Route Historical 66 Village neon sign lights the sky in Tulsa
The Route 66 Historical Village in southwest Tulsa lighted its new neon sign a few days ago -- one of at least a dozen new or restored neon signs along the historic highway in that city. Tulsa-area resident Susan Yates shared this short video and another clip of the animated sign on Facebook. Here's a … Continue reading New Route Historical 66 Village neon sign lights the sky in Tulsa
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton will keep winter hours this summer
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton will not expand its hours during the summer months when it reopens because of an anticipated drop in tourists from the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the museum will maintain its winter hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Fox25 in Oklahoma City reported: “Once the … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton will keep winter hours this summer
Charles Custer, a photographer of Route 66 in the early 1950s, dies at age 91
Charles Custer, a retired Chicago lawyer whose startlingly detailed photographs of Route 66 businesses that he and his wife Irene took in the early 1950s were recently re-discovered, died at age 91 in January. The Chicago Sun-Times described Custer's remarkable life and photographic legacy in an obituary last week. A memorial service had been planned … Continue reading Charles Custer, a photographer of Route 66 in the early 1950s, dies at age 91
Litchfield museum says to keep that coronavirus memorabilia
The coronavirus pandemic is ongoing in the United States and many parts of the world, but the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Illinois, wants people to retain their memorabilia from the ordeal even before it's over. Anne Jackson, secretary for the museum, wrote a letter to the The Journal-News, based in … Continue reading Litchfield museum says to keep that coronavirus memorabilia
Group launches website about Albuquerque’s midcentury architecture
Modern Albuquerque, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving midcentury modernist architecture and art, recently launched a website about such historic sites. Thea Haver, the co-founder of Modern Albuquerque, talked to the Albuquerque Journal about the website and the midcentury style: Haver said modernist or midcentury architecture dates from 1945 to 1975, “from post-World War … Continue reading Group launches website about Albuquerque’s midcentury architecture
Navajo County Courthouse in Holbrook soon will get a new roof
The Navajo County Historic Courthouse along Route 66 in Holbrook, Arizona, soon will receive a new roof after the county's board of supervisors approved a bid for the job. The White Mountain Independent reports the low bidder was $197,000 from Restore Pro of Snowflake, Arizona. The contract calls for removing the old roof, including special handling … Continue reading Navajo County Courthouse in Holbrook soon will get a new roof
Route 66 roadside park coming behind welcome center in Baxter Springs
A Route 66 roadside park soon will be installed behind the Baxter Springs 66 Welcome Center in Baxter Springs, Kansas. According to an op-ed by resident Duane Lyon in the Cherokee County News-Advocate: This includes a mural wall, LongHorn Statue plaza, a green space, sitting areas at the sitting wall, focal point sitting area and … Continue reading Route 66 roadside park coming behind welcome center in Baxter Springs
County OKs redevelopment plan for Lake Dolores waterpark in Newberry Springs
The San Bernardino County board of supervisors approved a plan that would allow the redevelopment of the long-abandoned Lake Dolores waterpark north of Newberry Springs, California. The Victor Valley News reported: According to a newsletter from Robert Lovingood’s office, “the Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a general plan amendment and conditional use permit to establish … Continue reading County OKs redevelopment plan for Lake Dolores waterpark in Newberry Springs