The City Commission of Tucumcari, N.M., on Thursday approved the use of the Tucumcari Convention Center as the future home of the New Mexico Route 66 Museum, according to an email from Richard Talley, owner of the Motel Safari in Tucumcari. The museum's board now will work on a lease agreement with the city. Talley … Continue reading Route 66 museum likely will be in Tucumcari Convention Center
Category: Museums
A visit to Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard
Here's the latest "Route 66 Stories" video for the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. It's an interview with the Deck brothers and their Doc's Soda Fountain in downtown Girard, about 1 1/2 blocks off Illinois Highway 4, the 1926-32 alignment of Route 66. It's also home to the Deck's Drug Store museum. The store's history … Continue reading A visit to Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard
Pontiac continues its tourism surge
The focus has been on the Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., in recent stories about the uncommonly strong tourism that Illinois saw in 2011. But this excerpt in a new story by the Pontiac Daily Leader got my attention: Locally, the city of Pontiac last year experienced a 40 percent increase in the number … Continue reading Pontiac continues its tourism surge
Pontiac’s museums
This video by WMBD-TV in Peoria, Ill., does a good job packing information about the four museums in Pontiac, Ill., into about 90 seconds. https://youtu.be/NPSITNBYeeA The museums are: Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum & Resource Center Livingston County War Museum International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum And the Museum … Continue reading Pontiac’s museums
Route 66 bolsters Illinois recovery in tourism
The state of Illinois announced that tourism returned to pre-recession levels in 2011, with Route 66 helping drive that recovery, reported the Chicago Tribune. The state reported hosting more than 93.3 million visitors, up 10.2 percent from 2010 and surpassing the previous record of 91 million in 2006. The increase outpaced a national average gain … Continue reading Route 66 bolsters Illinois recovery in tourism
Private prison operator is likely source of Santa Rosa’s tax rebate
Documents obtained by the Guadalupe County Communicator indicate a private prison operator is the likely source of the gross receipts tax rebate that has put the City of Santa Rosa, N.M., in a fiscal crisis. The GEO Group is the only local employer given a tax refund this year that's big enough to cover what … Continue reading Private prison operator is likely source of Santa Rosa’s tax rebate
Zoning approved to convert Joliet church to senior housing, Route 66 center
The City Council of Joliet, Ill., approved zoning changes Monday that would allow a developer to convert a long-closed church into senior housing and a Route 66 visitors center, reported the Chicago Tribune. St. Mary’s Carmelite Church, built in 1882, had been closed for 20 years in downtown Joliet. The developer, Celadon Holdings of Chicago, … Continue reading Zoning approved to convert Joliet church to senior housing, Route 66 center
Litchfield wants more data about Route 66 museum before giving money
The City Council of Litchfield, Ill., wants more information from the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center before it honors a request for a $20,000 donation, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. Museum officials initially requested $100,000 in motel tax funds from the city. But Mayor Tom Jones and other councilors reduced that amount, and … Continue reading Litchfield wants more data about Route 66 museum before giving money
Rail museum in Kingman will likely open in late July
A room at the Amtrak Train Depot in Kingman, Ariz., will be devoted toy trains and other railroad memorabilia when when a local train club opens it later this month, reported the Kingman Daily Miner newspaper. The Whistle Stop Railroad Club repaired some broken-down toy trains and railcars, and now have them operating. More about … Continue reading Rail museum in Kingman will likely open in late July
Bel-Aire Motel ruled out for Springfield Route 66 museum
The historic Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield, Ill., has been quietly withdrawn as a possible site for a Route 66 visitors center and museum, reported The State Journal-Register. A group of tourism, city and planning officials has been meeting informally about the idea in recent weeks, including an analysis by the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission … Continue reading Bel-Aire Motel ruled out for Springfield Route 66 museum