The restoration of the neon sign for the closed West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, is among the $6 million in grants recently awarded by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. A list of the funds given from the state's Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program was posted in a document on the commission's website. Several grant … Continue reading Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants
Category: Museums
Red Carpet Corridor Festival participants get a glimpse of soon-to-be-relocated Gemini Giant
Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival participants had the rare privilege of seeing the Gemini Giant from the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant lying in repose, with its helmet off. The Joliet Patch had details about the fiberglass giant being shown inside the City of Wilmington's public works building during last weekend's 17th annual … Continue reading Red Carpet Corridor Festival participants get a glimpse of soon-to-be-relocated Gemini Giant
Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum of Sapulpa offers a new route of vintage car rides
The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, this year is offering a new route to ride in vintage automobiles. This year’s vintage cars available to ride are a 1923 Packard or a 1923 Cadillac. There will be two route options for the Packard rides and one for the Cadillac. Visitors choosing the Packard … Continue reading Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum of Sapulpa offers a new route of vintage car rides
Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitors Center wins Preserve Missouri Award
The Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitors Center along Route 66 in Pacific, Missouri, has received a 2024 Preserve Missouri Award from the Missouri Preservation organization. The awards were announced in an email from the organization on Wednesday. The Preserve Missouri awards has recognized outstanding efforts and projects around the state since 2002. Here's what … Continue reading Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitors Center wins Preserve Missouri Award
American Giants Museum’s grand opening will include installation of two Muffler Men
The American Giants Museum's grand opening on May 24-26 will include the installation of two Muffler Men on the site in downtown Atlanta, Illinois. According to a news release, featured activities on May 24 will include the arrival and installation of a 24-foot-tall Texaco Big Friend giant, one of only six surviving from the original … Continue reading American Giants Museum’s grand opening will include installation of two Muffler Men
New documentary released on HBO about the Oklahoma City bombing
HBO has released on its Max streaming platform a new documentary about the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, the worst act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. "An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th" was released Tuesday. Here is the trailer: https://youtu.be/lZ1DlykhLAo?si=_u5SFCwq_IOLk8p4 Katie Couric, executive producer of the film and … Continue reading New documentary released on HBO about the Oklahoma City bombing
Several Oklahoma organizations with Route 66 ties awarded preservation grants
The Oklahoma Historical Society awarded 37 entities a total of $520,000 in grants this year, including several with Route 66 ties. We mentioned yesterday the Totum Pole Park near Foyil received a $20,000 grant to help restore its Fiddle House. Here are the rest of them that are relevant to Route 66: Friends of the … Continue reading Several Oklahoma organizations with Route 66 ties awarded preservation grants
Gemini Giant sells at auction for $275,000, will stay in Wilmington
The landmark Gemini Giant fiberglass statue at the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, was sold at auction Wednesday for $275,000, and the mayor announced it will remain in town at a different location. Grafe Auctions didn't reveal the buyer, citing its privacy policy. However, the City of Wilmington hours later revealed in … Continue reading Gemini Giant sells at auction for $275,000, will stay in Wilmington
Astronaut Tom Stafford dies at 93; air and space museum in Weatherford is named after him
Thomas P. Stafford, an Oklahoma-born astronaut who was on several space missions, including to the moon, died Monday in Florida at age 93. Stafford also has an excellent air and space museum named after him along Route 66 in his hometown of Weatherford. Stafford, who began his career as a test pilot, was aboard Gemini … Continue reading Astronaut Tom Stafford dies at 93; air and space museum in Weatherford is named after him
American Giants Museum announces hours, will hold grand opening Memorial Day weekend
The American Giants Museum in downtown Atlanta, Illinois, recently announced its regular hours, with a grand opening set for Memorial Day weekend in late May. This month, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Starting April 2, the hours will be: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through … Continue reading American Giants Museum announces hours, will hold grand opening Memorial Day weekend