A pitchman wants a Route 66 The Road to Rock museum in downtown Joliet, Illinois, but a few city officials seemed tepid to the idea -- especially the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Ron Romero proposed his idea -- which aims to pay homage to the musical heroes of Illinois -- to the Joliet City Council … Continue reading Joliet lukewarm to Route 66 The Road to Rock museum idea
Category: Museums
New Route 66 exhibit opens in History Museum on the Square
History Museum on the Square in downtown Springfield, Missouri, on Monday opened its latest exhibit, "Memories of the Mother Road: Birthplace of Route 66." The show will run through the end of the year. Katy Rawlins, office manager for the museum, explained the show in an email: The exhibit focuses on the route through Springfield … Continue reading New Route 66 exhibit opens in History Museum on the Square
World’s Tallest Gas Pump in Sapulpa nears completion
The 66-foot-tall gas pump in front of the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, neared completion last week with the installation of what will be a lighted medallion on top. Officials are billing it the World's Tallest Gas Pump, with the idea of the oversized landmark drawing visitors into their museum. The … Continue reading World’s Tallest Gas Pump in Sapulpa nears completion
Spaceship to land at The Mill for its 88th birthday
I never thought I'd write that headline. A spaceship made by the same man who crafted the World's Largest Covered Wagon in Lincoln, Illinois, will make a special appearance Tuesday at The Mill museum for the Route 66 landmark's 88th birthday. The Mill opened as The Blue Mill sandwich stand July 25, 1929, along U.S. … Continue reading Spaceship to land at The Mill for its 88th birthday
Route 66 has spawned many “new” places
A reader over the weekend asked me what are some of the "new" businesses or attractions on Route 66 in the past 10 years or so. Naturally, this sort of question sent me down a rabbit hole of research for hours. I set the "new" criteria as the post-"Cars" era -- since the 2006 release … Continue reading Route 66 has spawned many “new” places
La Posada to begin restoration of east grounds, depot next month
La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, will begin a $2 million first phase of restoration of its east grounds and railroad depot in July. According to a Facebook post a few days ago from hotel owner Allan Affeldt, the project eventually will become the Winslow Arts Museum. More details: The Winslow Art Museum will explore … Continue reading La Posada to begin restoration of east grounds, depot next month
Staffers’ favorite parts of the Route 66 exhibit at the Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis recently launched a video series about the current "Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis" exhibit. Staffers with the museum are asked about their favorite parts of the show. Here are their answers: https://youtu.be/luXK_W5gIOo https://youtu.be/ZvTMTKVPOi8 https://youtu.be/PYNuRNa1za8 And here is a 30-second trailer about the exhibit itself. https://youtu.be/CgY0tM7gxBo The Route … Continue reading Staffers’ favorite parts of the Route 66 exhibit at the Missouri History Museum
Route 66 visitors center in Bloomington sees 50 percent increase in attendance
The Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center in Bloomington, Illinois, saw a 50 percent increase in attendance from April 2016 to April 2017. The visitors center, on the ground floor of the McLean County Museum of History, recorded 27,173 visits in the past year, compared to just over 18,000 the year before. From the … Continue reading Route 66 visitors center in Bloomington sees 50 percent increase in attendance
The Mill in Lincoln reopens after 21-year hiatus
The Mill restaurant of Lincoln, Illinois, on Saturday reopened as local history museum, capping a decade-long effort to restore the dilapidated Route 66 landmark after it closed in 1996. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was there to attend the ceremonial ribbon (thankfully, the ceremony was indoors, as virtually of Illinois was drenched by torrential rainstorms). Video … Continue reading The Mill in Lincoln reopens after 21-year hiatus
The Mill plays a role in solving a Lincoln mystery
The Mill restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, which reopened this weekend as a museum, played an unlikely role in solving a mystery involving a local church and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln long was rumored to have practiced law at the Lincoln Christian Church in Lincoln in the late 1850s when the local courthouse burned and the church was … Continue reading The Mill plays a role in solving a Lincoln mystery