A recent report in a regional newspaper gave more details about the American Giants Museum that will open next month along Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Illinois. The story of so-called Muffler Men, or fiberglass giants built primarily in the 1960s, will be housed in a former Texaco gas station at 100 SW Arch St. … Continue reading Report gives more details about the forthcoming American Giants Museum
Category: Museums
Three entities involved in Route 66 groups or towns win grants from National Trust fund
Three entities, including one dedicated to preserving the endangered Gasconade River Bridge in Missouri, recently received grants from the National Trust Preservation Fund. More about the bridge award from the National Trust's news release: The Route 66 Association of Missouri, Inc. was awarded $5,000 from the Kansas and Missouri Preservation Fund to hire an engineering … Continue reading Three entities involved in Route 66 groups or towns win grants from National Trust fund
Unser Racing Museum leaving Albuquerque for a new spot in Nebraska
Apparently the Unser racing family's deep roots in Albuquerque weren't deep enough to keep its museum in the Duke City. The Unser Racing Museum announced Friday it would close and move its massive collection to the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska. The move is occurring despite the city offering $4 million … Continue reading Unser Racing Museum leaving Albuquerque for a new spot in Nebraska
Springfield plans to reopen Bill Shea’s Gas Station Museum
The City of Springfield, Illinois, recently accepted a $623,000 state grant to reopen Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum along Route 66. According to the Springfield State Journal-Register, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl wants to make the closed station on Peoria Road (aka Route 66) an "Instagram-able stop," especially for international travelers. Dahl elaborated on … Continue reading Springfield plans to reopen Bill Shea’s Gas Station Museum
Nat King Cole among new inductees at Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66
The Joliet-based Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 recently announced its third class of inductees, and one of them made a key impact on Route 66 itself. That would be Nat King Cole, who was born in Alabama but spent his formative years in Chicago. He popularized "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" … Continue reading Nat King Cole among new inductees at Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66
Developer withdraws plans for Route 66 mixed-use project in Tulsa, citing construction costs
A developer that sought to build an ambitious Route 66-themed mixed-use project in Tulsa told the city this week it has withdrawn the proposal, citing a rise in construction costs that made it unfeasible. Sharp Development of Tulsa pulled out of the project this week after the city selected it from four proposals a year … Continue reading Developer withdraws plans for Route 66 mixed-use project in Tulsa, citing construction costs
Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month
The Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Illinois, will celebrate its 10th birthday on June 1 with a celebration two days later, on June 3. Cheryl Eichar Jett wrote about the initiative and history of the welcome center in the latest issue of The Buzz Monthly. It all started when Anne Jackson, … Continue reading Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month
Route 66 Interpretive Center in Edwardsville sets grand opening for June 9
The forthcoming Route 66 Interpretive Center, housed in a former gas station in Edwardsville, Illinois, will hold its grand opening on June 9. According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the center will be open from Friday through Sunday after it opens. The building is the former West End Service Station at the corner of West and … Continue reading Route 66 Interpretive Center in Edwardsville sets grand opening for June 9
American Giants Museum to hold a soft opening on Memorial Day weekend
The American Giants Museum along Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois, will hold a soft opening on Memorial Day weekend. Those details and others came in a news release Tuesday from the nonprofit Atlanta Betterment Fund, which is helping shepherd the project with museum creator Joel Baker, who for years has been a preservation advocate and … Continue reading American Giants Museum to hold a soft opening on Memorial Day weekend
New indoor mural is being painted in Galena Mining and History Museum
An artist is painting a mural inside the Galena Mining and History Museum in Galena, Kansas, and anticipates finishing it in about 10 days. According to KSNF-TV and museum director Linda Phipps, Sandra Pemberton's mural will depict Galena's railroad, mining and Route 66 history. Here's what Phipps said inspired the mural: “I was visiting my … Continue reading New indoor mural is being painted in Galena Mining and History Museum