Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and state Rep. Tim Butler will attend several Route 66 events in Lincoln, Illinois, on Saturday, including the grand reopening of The Mill as a local museum. According to a news release from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway: The festivities begin with a parade at 11 a.m. from downtown Lincoln … Continue reading Governor will attend The Mill’s grand reopening
Category: Museums
Basketball Museum of Illinois gets green light in Pontiac
A museum devoted to all forms of basketball in the state of Illinois will open in Pontiac by late 2017 or 2018, it was announced this week. The Basketball Museum of Illinois, curated by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, will occupy a closed Kmart store on Vermillion Square, next to old Route 66 on the … Continue reading Basketball Museum of Illinois gets green light in Pontiac
A trip down Oklahoma’s Route 66, circa 2009
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently began uploading videos to Vimeo, including this 17-minute trip down Route 66 in the Sooner State. It's not a recent video, as I noted a few things that apparently have changed since it was shot. The big totem pole at Totem Pole Park near Foyil has been repainted in … Continue reading A trip down Oklahoma’s Route 66, circa 2009
New fundraiser launched for The Mill in Lincoln
The Mill restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, will reopen as a local museum April 29, but organizers for the Route 66 landmark seek to raise money for final restoration expenses before the big event. This week, a Crowdrise fundraiser was launched by the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County. Here's what it says: The Mill … Continue reading New fundraiser launched for The Mill in Lincoln
Motel Safari in Tucumcari is up for sale
The owners of the historic and nicely restored Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico, announced they have put the Route 66 property up for sale. Co-owner Richard Talley put the word out with a message on the Route 66 World website Wednesday: “As we open for the 2017 season and approach our 10th year since … Continue reading Motel Safari in Tucumcari is up for sale
The Mill grand opening set for April 29
The Mill in Lincoln, Illinois, will reopen as a museum during a grand opening April 29 after the former Route 66 restaurant finished renovations to make its restrooms accessible to the handicapped. Thanks to prompting from Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County board secretary Geoff Ladd, the city likely will help organize several events … Continue reading The Mill grand opening set for April 29
Progress report on the Route 66 Experience museum
Ken Busby, CEO and executive director of the Route 66 Alliance, provided an update this week on Public Radio Tulsa about the ongoing Route 66 Experience museum project in Tulsa. You can listen to the 25-minute interview here. Here are some highlights: --- About $13 million is raised, nearly two-thirds of the way to the $23 million goal. … Continue reading Progress report on the Route 66 Experience museum
Route 66 exhibit opens Saturday at Hoover Presidential Library in Iowa
If you live in Iowa or close to it, it may interest you to know of a Route 66 exhibit coming Saturday at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum in Hoover's hometown of West Branch, east of Iowa City. "America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66" will be on display at the museum from Jan. 28 … Continue reading Route 66 exhibit opens Saturday at Hoover Presidential Library in Iowa
Missouri History Museum sees highest attendance since 1930s
The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis finished 2016 with its highest attendance in about 80 years, and a Route 66 exhibit is being partially credited for that. KSDK-TV in St. Louis reports the museum logged more than 500,000 visitors in the just-finished year. The station reported: "Most museums rely on one big exhibit, … Continue reading Missouri History Museum sees highest attendance since 1930s
Albuquerque buys land for a Route 66 visitors center
Albuquerque city officials on Wednesday morning celebrated the purchase of land on Route 66 west of the city for a Route 66 visitors center. The Albuquerque Journal reported the $3.4 million facility will funded by the city, state and county, and a series of community meetings will help decide the visitors center's design. City Councilor … Continue reading Albuquerque buys land for a Route 66 visitors center