Bill Shea Gas Station Museum now open by appointment

Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum along Route 66 in Springfield, Ill., is now open by appointment with help from the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau after being closed for much of the late winter and spring. The increasingly frail Shea, 91, was admitted to a nursing home in December. His son, Bill Jr., closed the … Continue reading Bill Shea Gas Station Museum now open by appointment

“Man of Steel” can be found in Carterville

With the blockbuster Superman film "Man of Steel" opening this weekend, KOAM-TV took a closer look at the Supertam on 66 ice cream shop and museum on Route 66 in Carterville, Mo., that pays tribute to the comic-book character. If the video isn't properly embedding, just click on the link below. KOAM TV 7 Here's … Continue reading “Man of Steel” can be found in Carterville

Springfield, Mo., attributes tourism surge to Route 66

The number of tourists in Springfield, Mo., this year has risen by a healthy percentage this year, and officials are partially crediting Route 66 for the surge, reported KY3-TV in Springfield. Citing the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, the station reports that overnight stays in hotels are up 12 percent and the number of tourists … Continue reading Springfield, Mo., attributes tourism surge to Route 66

Major Route 66 exhibit coming to Autry Center in a year

I just got this news release today. Some of you folks already know about it. But for those who don't ... We are one year away from the opening of a major exhibition on the history of the Mother Road. "Route 66: The Road and the Romance" will open on June 7, 2014, at the … Continue reading Major Route 66 exhibit coming to Autry Center in a year

Litchfield museum opens

The  Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Ill., opened to the public over the weekend. The Springfield State Journal-Register filed a story about the wide-ranging displays there. An excerpt: The museum includes American Indian artifacts found on Shoal Creek in Montgomery County, old farm tools, a gas pump, story of Sky View Drive-In, … Continue reading Litchfield museum opens

Where is Tulsa’s Route 66 museum?

A letter to the editor featured Sunday in the Tulsa World encapsulates the frustrations many Tulsans feel about the Route 66 part of the Vision 2025 sales-tax program. You can read the letter by Scott Swearingen here. A few key parts: On almost any day, I see visitors to Tulsa stopping to admire the Cyrus … Continue reading Where is Tulsa’s Route 66 museum?

Local artist painting mural on McDonald’s Museum

Cartoonist Phil Yeh is painting an elaborate mural on the McDonald's Museum in San Bernardino, Calif., reported the San Bernardino County Sun. Yeh, who created a comic book about Route 66 several years ago, started the mural last year but was slowed by a stroke. Due to partial paralysis, he painted left-handed until he recovered … Continue reading Local artist painting mural on McDonald’s Museum

New Mexico Route 66 Museum gets $5,000 donation

The fledgling New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari received a $5,000 donation from the First National Bank of New Mexico, reported the Quay County Sun, based in Tucumcari. That's on top of the $3,000 from the Tucumcari Federal Savings and Loan Association and $5,000 from the McMullen Trust. The museum inside the Tucumcari Convention Center … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Museum gets $5,000 donation

Litchfield museum sets June 1 for grand opening

The Litchfield History Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Ill., has set Saturday, June 1, for its grand opening, according to a news release from the museum board. From the release: Designed to reflect the Route 66 era, the new attraction is located at 334 Historic Old Route 66 South on the site … Continue reading Litchfield museum sets June 1 for grand opening

Route 66 exhibit opens at Springfield, Mo., museum

A new exhibit about a local history of Route 66 -- "Woodruff's Dream: The Mother Road Through Springfield" -- opened over the weekend at the History Museum on the Square in downtown Springfield, Mo. It speaks a lot for the exhibit when Tonya Pike, a local who's very well-versed about Route 66, said it made … Continue reading Route 66 exhibit opens at Springfield, Mo., museum