Here's a news brief from the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph: The Route 66 Association of Illinois will take nominations for its Hall of Fame from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. Nominations must include qualities, deeds and history on Route 66. To qualify, nominees must have made significant contributions to the character or history of the Illinois … Continue reading Illinois Hall of Fame taking nominations
Category: Museums
Notes from the road
I overlooked this story a few weeks ago, but the neon Route 66 sign at Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza in Tulsa was damaged by a thief or vandal. The sign has been taken down for repairs and will be re-erected when it's completed. --- Season 3 of the original "Route 66" television series will be … Continue reading Notes from the road
Election Day for Atlanta
Nov. 4 is the day that Americans will choose a new president. It's also the day in which the residents of Atlanta, Ill., are considering a property-tax hike to boost the operations of a new museum. From the Lincoln Courier: Residents in the Atlanta Public Library District will be asked to approve a tax levy … Continue reading Election Day for Atlanta
Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe ran into a group from the National Preservation Conference in Tulsa that was touring Oklahoma's eastern end of Route 66, plus the Mother Road in Kansas. Among the sights taken in were the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla.; Afton Station in Afton, Okla.; a stretch of the old 9-foot-wide highway, the … Continue reading Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
Notes from the Preservation Conference
I attended a couple of Route 66-related seminars and took a stroll in the exhibition hall on Wednesday during the National Preservation Conference at the Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa. Here are a few news items that should be of interest to roadies: -- I ran into Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurants … Continue reading Notes from the Preservation Conference
The original Golden Arches
Trevor Summons of the San Bernardino County Sun has an interesting article about the original McDonald's restaurant at 14th and E streets in San Bernardino, Calif. Situated on Route 66 - it is in fact the business loop of the famous road - McDonald's was originally brought there on a flatbed from Arcadia. The two … Continue reading The original Golden Arches
A look at the Illinois Route 66 master plan
Yesterday, the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project released a proposed Interpretive Master Plan executive summary, which seeks to "enhance and to promote economic opportunities" to communities on historic Route 66 in Illinois. The plan was written by the University of Wisconsin's Schmeeckle Reserve Interpreters of Stevens Point. The entire 32-page document can be viewed here, … Continue reading A look at the Illinois Route 66 master plan
City may buy Bel-Aire Motel as tourism stop
The city of Springfield, Ill., is in discussions with the state for funding to buy the Bel-Aire Motel so it can be converted into a Route 66 Discovery Center, reports the Journal-Register. The motel is still operating, but it's now a haven of criminal activity. But both Mayor Tim Davlin and supporters of a statewide, … Continue reading City may buy Bel-Aire Motel as tourism stop
Notes from the Web
The Barstow Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, Calif., has just announced the opening of its online store. Mother Road items offered by the museum include T-shirts, kitchen collectibles, patches, key chains, jewelry, lapel pins, metal signs and license plates. Go here for your early Christmas shopping. Jeff and Kelly of Vintage Roadside apparel … Continue reading Notes from the Web
Roy Rogers’ old ranch is up for sale
Movie star and singer Roy Rogers' old Double R Bar Ranch off old Route 66 in Oro Grande, Calif., is on the block, according to RIS Media. It can be yours for $12.5 million. From the news release: Roy Rogers owned the ranch up to his death on July 6, 1998. Shortly thereafter, Roy Rogers … Continue reading Roy Rogers’ old ranch is up for sale