The Lincoln County Express child-size train that spent decades rusting away amid the brush along Route 66 east of Stroud, Oklahoma, has been restored and moved next to the landmark Rock Cafe in Stroud. Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin reported in a Facebook post on the Historic Route 66 page that the city … Continue reading Restored Lincoln County Express child-size train ends up near Rock Cafe in Stroud
Category: History
The remarkable story of Alberta’s Hotel in Springfield, Missouri
KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri, recently produced a segment about the amazing history of Alberta's Hotel, an establishment in that Route 66 city that catered to African Americans during the Jim Crow era. Alberta's Hotel was listed in the annual Negro Motorist Green Book travel guide. Both perished during the mid-1960s, about the time the United … Continue reading The remarkable story of Alberta’s Hotel in Springfield, Missouri
Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari
Workers on Tuesday began tearing down the long-closed Cactus Motor Lodge, aka Cactus RV Park, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, to make way for an auto parts store. O'Reilly Auto Parts, based in Springfield, Missouri, plans to build a store there later this year. O'Reilly purchased the property in late 2018 but was delayed in developing … Continue reading Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari
A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist
An Oklahoma City television station recently profiled a Sooner State muralist who's painted up to 4,000 murals during his career, including several on Route 66. Here's the profile of Bob Palmer from KFOR-TV. You can see one of his Route 66 murals in the segment: Dozens of his historic-themed murals can be seen here. You'll … Continue reading A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist
New exhibit at Joplin examines Route 66’s impact on culture
A new exhibit at an arts center in Joplin, Missouri, examines the cross-cultural impact of Route 66 from a native of that town. "Route 66: Crossing Cultural Lines," curated by artist and former American Jazz Museum curator Sara Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin, will be in the main gallery of the Spiva Center for the Arts in … Continue reading New exhibit at Joplin examines Route 66’s impact on culture
Museum Club of Flagstaff to go on indefinite hiatus starting Monday
Citing hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic Museum Club of Flagstaff, Arizona, will go on at least an indefinite hiatus starting Monday. The storied bar and music club on Flagstaff's east side along Route 66 made this announcement Monday on its Facebook page: This is our last week open. It's been a fun … Continue reading Museum Club of Flagstaff to go on indefinite hiatus starting Monday
Woody’s Wood-Fire Pizza in Joplin reopens as a much bigger location after fire
Woody's Wood-Fire Pizza, a stalwart along Route 66 on the west side of Joplin, Missouri, recently reopened after a fire a year ago prompted the owners to make big improvements to the restaurant. Wally Kennedy, the business columnist for the Joplin Globe, stated Woody's once was "the tiniest restaurant in Joplin." However, the rebuild by … Continue reading Woody’s Wood-Fire Pizza in Joplin reopens as a much bigger location after fire
Library of Congress puts Negro Motorist Green Book interviews online, including Threatt Filling Station’s
The Library of Congress recently posted online photographs and taped interviews of the owners of surviving African American businesses for Candacy Taylor's Negro Motorist Green Book research. One of the interviewees is Allen Threatt of the Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma. The collection, found here, includes interview subjects from Miami, Florida; … Continue reading Library of Congress puts Negro Motorist Green Book interviews online, including Threatt Filling Station’s
St. Robert begins restoration of Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs
The City of St. Robert, Missouri, recently announced it began the long-awaited restoration of the Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs that once graced a defunct motel along Route 66 in west St. Louis. The sign restorations are part of the Route 66 Sign Neon Park planned at the historic George M. Reed Roadside Park at 228 … Continue reading St. Robert begins restoration of Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs
Joe Bono, longtime owner of Bono’s Deli in Fontana, dies at age 88
Joe Bono, owner of the landmark Bono's Restaurant and Deli along Route 66 in Fontana, California, for years before it was converted to Bono's Italian Restaurant last year, died Dec. 1. He was 88. Bono died peacefully at his home, according to an obituary Thursday in the Fontana Herald News. Bono, born and raised in … Continue reading Joe Bono, longtime owner of Bono’s Deli in Fontana, dies at age 88