In celebration of the approaching centennial of the Mother Road, “Rediscovering Route 66 – One Miniature Mile at a Time,” by teen photographer Anthony Schmidt, has been designated an official Route 66 Centennial Project. The designation recognizes the project’s commitment to celebrating, preserving and reimagining the legacy of Route 66 as it enters its second century. … Continue reading “Rediscovering Route 66 – One Miniature Mile at a Time” named an official centennial initiative
Category: People
La Fonda president wins Hotelier of the Year award
Rik Blyth, president of La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was recently given the Hotelier of the Year honor from Historic Hotels of America, a program for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The 27th annual honor is awarded to those who demonstrate "the highest contribution to furthering the celebration of … Continue reading La Fonda president wins Hotelier of the Year award
Illinois State Museum unveils 100 oral histories about Route 66
The Illinois State Museum in Springfield announced the launch of the online Route 66 Oral History Project, which gathered 100 stories about the history of the Mother Road before its centennial in 2026. The database includes video-recorded interviews, as well as world-searchable written transcriptions. Contributors include people who lived, worked and traveled along Route 66 … Continue reading Illinois State Museum unveils 100 oral histories about Route 66
Johnny “Moo-Moo” Miller, former Illinois Route 66 Association president, dies
Johnny "Moo-Moo" Miller, a former president of the Illinois Route 66 Association and a longtime member, died on Oct. 11. He was 73. His obituary, through Hickey Memorial Chapels in Midlothian, Illinois, described him as "a friend to many" and an "avid fan of all Chicago sports teams with the exception of the Cubs." "Nobody … Continue reading Johnny “Moo-Moo” Miller, former Illinois Route 66 Association president, dies
Beth Murray appointed president of California Historical Route 66 Association
The California Historic Route 66 Association, the official organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of California's Route 66, announced the appointment of Beth Murray as its new president, effective Oct. 4. Murray will lead the association in its mission to promote Route 66 for future generations beyond the highway's 2026 centennial celebrations. Murray succeeds … Continue reading Beth Murray appointed president of California Historical Route 66 Association
Highway Hot Dog opens in Historic Seligman Sundries building
Highway Hot Dog has opened along Route 66 in the century-old building that was once known as Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona. The recent opening of the restaurant at 22395 W. Old Highway 66 was announced in a post on the Doing Life in Seligman Facebook page. It specializes in all-beef hot dogs and … Continue reading Highway Hot Dog opens in Historic Seligman Sundries building
Old promotional video for Will Rogers Highway Memorials is uploaded
A couple of weeks ago, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association uploaded a 25-year-old promotional video about the Will Rogers Highway Memorials that are sprinkled along Route 66 and the memorials' namesake. The association wrote: In the 1990s, Darrell Ray of Joplin had an idea to help promote the revitalization of Historic Route 66 by reviving … Continue reading Old promotional video for Will Rogers Highway Memorials is uploaded
Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years
Pat Smith, the director of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, is retiring later this month after 30 years at the facility. A going-away party will be hosted at the museum at 2229 W. Gary Blvd. (Route 66) at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, announced Jim Ross, a longtime Route 66 historian. The museum … Continue reading Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years
Tommy Pike, former president of Route 66 Association of Missouri, dies
Tommy Pike, who was once president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri for about 20 years, has died. An obituary had not been posted as of Saturday. Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri, did not give details of Pike's death, citing privacy laws. However, a spokesperson at the funeral home confirmed it handled … Continue reading Tommy Pike, former president of Route 66 Association of Missouri, dies
Stephanie Stuckey to receive annual Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award
Historic Hotels of America announced this week that Stephanie Stuckey will receive the 2025 Historic Hotels of America Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels in the United States. The Historic Hotels Annual … Continue reading Stephanie Stuckey to receive annual Legacy of Innovation and Inspiration Award