Businesses and chambers of commerce along Route 66, take note -- data collected at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Ill., indicate that tourism there has risen nearly 30 percent in 2011, compared to the same period a year ago. According to a news release today from Ellie Alexander, director … Continue reading Pontiac tourism up 30% this year
Category: Museums
State funding cuts to Claremore museums prove minor
Funding cuts to two prominent museums in Claremore, Okla., were much less than originally anticipated, reported the Claremore Daily Progress. Oklahoma lawmakers reached a budget agreement this week that included a 7 percent reduction in funding to the state tourism office. But the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the J.M. Davis Arms Museum in Claremore each … Continue reading State funding cuts to Claremore museums prove minor
Hot wheels
Here's a good video shot from the inside of the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, N.M. https://youtu.be/XgRpp_WMh3A The museum's truly terrific car collection is well worth your time. It's also well-stocked with Route 66 souvenirs.
Report from the Waldmire Weekend
These photos from the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival in Pontiac, Ill., were shot by Cathie Stevanovich, president of the Illinois Route 66 Association. For all practical purposes, the weekend served as a tribute to Route 66 hippie, artist and Illinois native Bob Waldmire, who died of cancer in December 2009. Festival-goers, including Stevanovich … Continue reading Report from the Waldmire Weekend
A pitch for Pontiac
This is a new tourism video produced by McCoy Studios for the Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill. https://youtu.be/bSlWGLrP178 It's well done. Chambers of commerce, take note.
Lifelong resident of Route 66 dies
Gene Hodkin, who was born and married in the Route 66 town of Carthage, Mo., and also resided in the Mother Road town of Barstow, Calif., died at age 95 on April 25, according to the Desert Dispatch in Barstow. An excerpt in a 2009 story about Gene and Clara Hodkin's 70th wedding anniversary details his … Continue reading Lifelong resident of Route 66 dies
Festival will pay homage to first Dairy Queen
As if the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival wasn't busy enough this coming weekend, Joliet is celebrating the creation of the first-ever Dairy Queen restaurant, according to the Joliet Herald-News. The public is encouraged to come to the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St., and experience: free admission to the Route … Continue reading Festival will pay homage to first Dairy Queen
Pontiacs arriving in Pontiac in early May
Oklahoma resident Tim Dye's collection of vintage Pontiac vehicles is set to arrive the morning of May 5 at the new Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and Resource Center in Pontiac, Ill., according to a news release today from Pontiac Tourism. One semi-load of cars that will be displayed at the museum at 205 N. Mill St. in … Continue reading Pontiacs arriving in Pontiac in early May
Billy Connolly hits the Mother Road
Some months ago, we reported that Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly would be traveling Route 66 sometime in 2011 with a film crew in tow for a four-part television travel series. The working title is "Billy Connolly's Route 66." Today, we received word that Connolly showed up in Pontiac, Ill. According to Ellie Alexander of Pontiac Tourism: While … Continue reading Billy Connolly hits the Mother Road
New film will be shown at Chandler museum
Starting tomorrow, the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Okla., will show a new 20-minute documentary about one man's journey on Route 66 in 1959 and his revisiting the Mother Road decades later. Howard Dickman, a longtime trustee with the museum's historic Old Armory building and a Chandler resident, spent about 18 months working on … Continue reading New film will be shown at Chandler museum