A couple of weeks ago, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association uploaded a 25-year-old promotional video about the Will Rogers Highway Memorials that are sprinkled along Route 66 and the memorials' namesake. The association wrote: In the 1990s, Darrell Ray of Joplin had an idea to help promote the revitalization of Historic Route 66 by reviving … Continue reading Old promotional video for Will Rogers Highway Memorials is uploaded
Category: History
Route 66 News marks 20 years
On Oct. 9, 2005, this website hit the "publish" button for the first time. It existed at the time on the WordPress.com platform. It has changed hosts and platforms several times since then, but its name has remained the same -- Route 66 News. The tagline also has been a constant: "A clearinghouse of news … Continue reading Route 66 News marks 20 years
Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years
Pat Smith, the director of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, is retiring later this month after 30 years at the facility. A going-away party will be hosted at the museum at 2229 W. Gary Blvd. (Route 66) at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, announced Jim Ross, a longtime Route 66 historian. The museum … Continue reading Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years
Tommy Pike, former president of Route 66 Association of Missouri, dies
Tommy Pike, who was once president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri for about 20 years, has died. An obituary had not been posted as of Saturday. Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri, did not give details of Pike's death, citing privacy laws. However, a spokesperson at the funeral home confirmed it handled … Continue reading Tommy Pike, former president of Route 66 Association of Missouri, dies
Stephanie Stuckey to receive annual Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award
Historic Hotels of America announced this week that Stephanie Stuckey will receive the 2025 Historic Hotels of America Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels in the United States. The Historic Hotels Annual … Continue reading Stephanie Stuckey to receive annual Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award
Precursor of Jack Rabbit Trading Post started near Tijeras
The Jack Rabbit Trading Post of Joseph City, Arizona -- best known for its jackrabbit mascot and its "Here It Is!" billboard -- actually got its start near Tijeras in the East Mountains near Albuquerque. James H. Taylor opened the Jack Rabbit along Route 66 near Joseph City in 1949, but he opened another rabbit-promoted … Continue reading Precursor of Jack Rabbit Trading Post started near Tijeras
NMDOT receives national award for preservation of original Route 66 near Los Lunas
The New Mexico Department of Transportation received the 2025 Perpetual Pavement Award from the Asphalt Pavement Alliance, recognizing exceptional long-term performance and preservation of a historic section of New Mexico Route 6, part of the original Route 66 alignment. The recognized segment is a nine-mile portion of Route 6 west of Los Lunas, originally opened … Continue reading NMDOT receives national award for preservation of original Route 66 near Los Lunas
Founders of Frontier Restaurant to be honored by New Mexico Restaurant Association
The founders of the iconic Frontier Restaurant along Route 66 in Albuquerque will be given the lifetime achievement award at the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s Hospitality Industry Awards. Larry and Dorothy Rainosek founded the Frontier near the University of New Mexico campus in 1971. They also later founded the small Golden Pride restaurant chain in … Continue reading Founders of Frontier Restaurant to be honored by New Mexico Restaurant Association
Richard Nixon’s stance at Route 66 hotel helped usher in desegregation in Springfield, Missouri
The Springfield News-Leader recently published a story about how future U.S. President Richard Nixon's stand at a Route 66 hotel in Springfield, Missouri, in 1960 helped pave the way for racial desegregation in the region. Nixon was vice president at the time and was campaigning as a Republican candidate for president. It was September. The … Continue reading Richard Nixon’s stance at Route 66 hotel helped usher in desegregation in Springfield, Missouri
Mel-O-Cream Donuts unveils new sign near its Route 66 store in Springfield
Mel-O-Cream Donuts recently unveiled a new sign at its store along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois. The sign is shaped like a Route 66 shield doughnut (naturally). The store also announced during the event that it will have extended hours (until 6 p.m.) and new menu items, including ice cream. This particular Mel-O-Cream is at … Continue reading Mel-O-Cream Donuts unveils new sign near its Route 66 store in Springfield