I've got a few short items that I need to pass along. One is that the 100th Meridian Museum in Erick, Okla., received a new paint job a few weeks ago. The museum can be seen pre-face-lift here. Locals told us it was repainted by Jimmy Webb -- a local painter, not the famous songwriter who … Continue reading Notes from the road
Category: Museums
Requiem for The Coliseum
A story today by Jason Nevel in the Springfield State Journal-Register all but confirms what we've suspected -- that the historic Coliseum Ballroom in Benld, Ill., won't be rebuilt after a fire destroyed it a month ago. The story instead serves as a sort of requiem for the former music venue, which opened in 1924 … Continue reading Requiem for The Coliseum
Pinto Bean Museum opens soon in Edgewood
The Historic Pinto Bean Museum opens next weekend during the annual Harvest Festival inside the Wildlife West Nature Park complex just off Route 66 in Edgewood, N.M. The museum was funded in part by a grant from the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. The Harvest Festival weekend starts the evening of Friday, Aug. 26. Roger Alink, … Continue reading Pinto Bean Museum opens soon in Edgewood
KUAF’s Route 66 stories, all in one place
KUAF-FM, a National Public Radio affiliate based at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, posted daily reports from Route 66 in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas this week. Here's the complete set of broadcasts, which you can hear at the link: Monday, a report from Vintage Iron Museum in Miami, Okla. Tuesday, a report from the … Continue reading KUAF’s Route 66 stories, all in one place
Joliet museum sees 50% jump in tourism
The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Ill., reports a 50 percent rise in visitors since the 2008-2009 fiscal year, according to the Chicago Tribune. Guess what gets a good portion of the credit for the increase: About 16,000 people visited the museum, located at 204 N. Ottawa St. in downtown Joliet, in 2008-09, compared … Continue reading Joliet museum sees 50% jump in tourism
Williams may get a railroad museum next year
Tucked into this Arizona Republic story about a railroad buff is this intriguing excerpt: For years, Al Richmond has been collecting - schedules, pamphlets, photos, even locomotives - things that would tell railroad's story as it unfolded in Arizona. [...] To appreciate what happened as the rails made their way across Arizona in the late … Continue reading Williams may get a railroad museum next year
Pontiac museum gets about 100 petroliana artifacts
The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Ill., received a donation of petroleum memorabilia worth $10,000, according to a news release Tuesday from Pontiac Tourism. According to the release: The generous gift was made in memory of Robert Wainwright, a former field representative for ComEd in the Pontiac area. The donation … Continue reading Pontiac museum gets about 100 petroliana artifacts
Pontiac automotive museum provides a sneak peek
The new Pontiac-Oakland Museum and Resource Center in Pontiac, Ill., opened for a sneak preview Friday, reported the Pontiac Daily Leader. And it sounds like those who were there were wowed: Making it truly unique was that it was not simply row upon row of cars, but rather arranged with great thought with several pieces getting … Continue reading Pontiac automotive museum provides a sneak peek
Springfield takes closer look at motel as museum
The city of Springfield, Ill., again is thinking about converting the ramshackle Bel-Aire Motel into a Route 66-themed visitors center and museum, reported the State Journal-Register today. Springfield is considering other options for the Sixth Street motel after a recent inspection uncovered fire, electrical, and structural code violations. Mayor Tim Davlin first proposed the idea of … Continue reading Springfield takes closer look at motel as museum
A new wrinkle on Wrink’s Market
For an all-too-brief period, Terry Wrinkle resurrected Wrink's Market, the longtime Route 66 business in Lebanon, Mo., owned and operated by his late father Glenn Wrinkle. When Terry shut down the business in 2009, the future of the building looked cloudy. However, in recent weeks, the old Wrink's Market has found new life with D.C. … Continue reading A new wrinkle on Wrink’s Market