The long-planned Route 66 Experience facility in Tulsa may break ground by April or May 2018 and open to the public by November 2019 if all goes to plan, according to an email from the Route 66 Alliance's executive director. Ken Busby said about $13 million has been raised for the Route 66 Experience, which … Continue reading Route 66 Experience may break ground by spring
Category: Museums
Rare film footage of old Galena
The Galena Mining and Historical Museum late Wednesday posted on Facebook this video of very old film footage of Galena, Kansas, much of it believed to be in the 1920s. It shows a variety of scenes around town, including its lead and zinc-mining industries. The museum posted this message with the footage: This video was … Continue reading Rare film footage of old Galena
Settlement reached between Davis Arms Museum, state
The J.M. Davis Foundation, which runs the J.M. Davis Arms Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, and the state of Oklahoma recently reached an agreement over a nearly 10-year-old lawsuit alleging breach of contract by the state. The Claremore Daily Progress reported: Under the terms of the agreement approved Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 by Rogers County District … Continue reading Settlement reached between Davis Arms Museum, state
Museum unveils restored Tucumcari Motel sign
The New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari on Monday officially unveiled the restored Tucumcari Motel neon sign. Here's a brief Facebook video of the unveiling: Eight Ball Engineering in Clovis, New Mexico, restored the sign’s paint. Wellborn Sign Company in Amarillo, Texas, restored the neon. To show you how far the sign has come, … Continue reading Museum unveils restored Tucumcari Motel sign
City of Pacific closes deal to buy Red Cedar Inn
The city of Pacific, Missouri, recently completed its purchase of the closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant and will reopen it as visitors center, history museum and genealogy center sometime next year. The Washington Missourian reported the city paid $290,000 for the Route 66 landmark, which closed in 2007. The city had its eye on the … Continue reading City of Pacific closes deal to buy Red Cedar Inn
New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart
A new Route 66-themed mural in downtown Elkhart, Illinois, will be unveiled Sunday during a weekend that includes the 11th annual Car Cruise-In at The Mill in nearby Lincoln, Illinois. Here's more information about the mural from a news release: According to the Elkhart Historical Society, “the colorful hand-painted mural measuring 36 feet long by … Continue reading New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart
City of Pacific agrees to buy Red Cedar Inn
The city of Pacific, Missouri, agreed earlier this month to buy the historic but long-closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant along Route 66 for an undisclosed price. The real-estate deal will close Friday, reported the Washington Missourian newspaper. In discussion, City Administrator Steve Roth noted that the seller has agreed to some changes aldermen wanted. [...] … Continue reading City of Pacific agrees to buy Red Cedar Inn
Tucumcari Motel sign emerges from the ashes
The last time most people saw the old Tucumcari Motel sign near downtown Tucumcari, New Mexico, the long-closed business was destroyed by a suspected arson fire about three years ago. Because it stood about 20 feet from the building, the fire left the neon sign for the motel unscathed. Locals hauled away the sign a few … Continue reading Tucumcari Motel sign emerges from the ashes
Longtime California Route 66 museum volunteer Chick Kirk dies
Chick Kirk, 87, a longtime volunteer who greeted thousands of tourists at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville over the years, died Aug. 27. Kirk, whose real name was Charlotte, and fellow longtime volunteer Betty Halbe worked side by side at the museum, reported the Victorville Daily Press. Together, Chick Kirk and Halbe were … Continue reading Longtime California Route 66 museum volunteer Chick Kirk dies
Red Cedar Inn in Pacific will become history museum, visitors center
The historic but long-closed Red Cedar Inn near Pacific, Missouri, will be bought by the city and converted into a history museum and visitors center, according to a scoop by the Washington Missourian. The newspaper reported that city officials wouldn't talk about the impending deal officially, but several sources confirmed it to the Missourian. A … Continue reading Red Cedar Inn in Pacific will become history museum, visitors center