Here's the latest in a series of videos created for Illinois Route 66. This one's an interview with Betty Estes, who was instrumental in landing the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac and has been honored for her hospitality to Route 66 tourists. https://youtu.be/AqpgZTqjumY
Category: Museums
Route 66 News, catch-up edition
I've been out of town for about 10 days traveling Route 66 and more. Here are the stories from the Mother Road that broke while I was away ... --- The biggest news was the announcement that the historic Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, Calif., would undergo extensive renovations with its new owners, reported the Monrovia … Continue reading Route 66 News, catch-up edition
Tulsa Art Deco Museum opens today
The Tulsa Art Deco Museum, dedicated to that city's abundant style of architecture, opens today in the lobby of the downtown Philcade Building at 511 S. Boston Ave., reported the Tulsa World. More about Tulsa Art Deco, from a 2008 film by Jack Frank: https://youtu.be/rkMQdEW6v5A Local artist William Franklin, president and founder of the museum, … Continue reading Tulsa Art Deco Museum opens today
The finished 3-D sidewalk mural in Pontiac
During the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival in Pontiac, airbrush artist Tang Dongbai spent the weekend painting a three-dimensional sidewalk mural downtown. Here's the finished product: He finished the mural last Monday, but the artwork was barricaded for two more days until the paint cured. I believe one of the fish in the painting … Continue reading The finished 3-D sidewalk mural in Pontiac
Will Rogers, Carol Duncan voted to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Longtime Oklahoma Route 66 volunteer Carol Duncan and the late comedian, writer, and actor Will Rogers will be inducted into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame when the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton officially reopens May 26, according to a news release today from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. The Hall of Fame … Continue reading Will Rogers, Carol Duncan voted to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Illinois county may apply for grant to build visitors center at history museum
A committee for McLean County, Ill., supports applying for a half-million-dollar grant that would establish at visitors center at the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The $522,000 project moved to the front of the line when the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced in March that it has $15 million available … Continue reading Illinois county may apply for grant to build visitors center at history museum
A museum of vintage arcade games that are playable
Apparently this place has been operating in the small Route 66 town of McLean, Ill., for several years, and I never knew about it until this video popped up on YouTube a few days ago. This clip is a bit long, but there's not much fat. It's amazing how many 1980s video arcade machines are … Continue reading A museum of vintage arcade games that are playable
Ariston Cafe hosting sendoff party for Litchfield museum fundraiser
The Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Ill., is hosting a sendoff party tomorrow for a city administrator who will bicycle Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago to raise money for a history and Route 66 museum in the town, reported The Journal-News. The historic Route 66 restaurant will start serving free coffee and doughnuts at … Continue reading Ariston Cafe hosting sendoff party for Litchfield museum fundraiser
Tucumcari group commits to building Route 66 museum
A group in Tucumcari, N.M., announced today it is committed to establishing a Route 66 museum in town, according to a news release emailed by Richard Talley, owner of Motel Safari in Tucumcari. According to the release: The group is already in the process of forming its foundation, has a new website www.nmrt66museum.org, is currently finalizing … Continue reading Tucumcari group commits to building Route 66 museum
Details on the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum’s renovation
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton won't officially reopen until May 26, but The Oklahoman newspaper has some details on the renovations that are going on there: Not wanting to change the thematic approach, the museum will continue to tell the story of Route 66 by decade, said Smith, but patrons will have the … Continue reading Details on the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum’s renovation