Missouri State University's new exhibit, titled "The mOTHER Road: Stories of the African American Experience on Route 66," will open June 3 at the Benton Avenue AME Church in Springfield, Missouri. The exhibit will be up through Aug. 29. The renovated church, located on the Drury University campus, is at 830 N. Benton Ave. (Google Maps … Continue reading “The mOTHER Road: Stories of the African American Experience on Route 66” to open next month
Category: Preservation
Big Boy locomotive to make several stops in Route 66 towns in Illinois, Missouri in July
The legendary Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive is scheduled to make stops or pass through several Route 66 towns in Illinois and Missouri in mid-July. According to Big Boy's schedule, it will pass through or stop at these Route 66 municipalities: July 18, depart at 8:15 a.m. from Bloomington, Illinois (no public … Continue reading Big Boy locomotive to make several stops in Route 66 towns in Illinois, Missouri in July
Connie Echols, recent former owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel, dies
Connie Echols, the recent former owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, died Saturday, just weeks after she sold the Route 66 landmark. The motel's new owner, Rich Dinkela, announced her death on Sunday. If you’ve ever traveled Route 66, you know the Wagon Wheel isn’t just a place to stay—it’s a place … Continue reading Connie Echols, recent former owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel, dies
Route 66 has a humongous weekend
This past weekend was a huge one for Route 66 -- not just in Springfield, Missouri, but also in Williams, Arizona; Kingman, Arizona; Seligman, Arizona; and Joliet, Illinois. The events came 100 years after officials in Springfield sent a telegram to the federal government, stating they were receptive to the No. 66 for their Chicago-to-Los … Continue reading Route 66 has a humongous weekend
Petrified Forest National Park completes improvements near its southern entrance
The Petrified Forest National Park in northeast Arizona recently finished upgrades to facilities near the park's southern entrance, just off U.S. 180 southeast of Holbrook. According to the Arizona Daily Sun, changes to Rainbow Forest Complex include new restroom facilities outside of the Rainbow Forest Museum and a demonstration fossil preparation laboratory in the museum. … Continue reading Petrified Forest National Park completes improvements near its southern entrance
More details released on grand opening of Blue Whale Visitor Center, Blue Whale Run on May 30
The City of Catoosa, Oklahoma, will host the grand opening of the new Blue Whale Visitor Center and the inaugural Blue Whale Run on May 30 at the Blue Whale of Catoosa. The revamped Blue Whale site still is under construction, including this view of the new visitor center and the unchanged Blue Whale itself. … Continue reading More details released on grand opening of Blue Whale Visitor Center, Blue Whale Run on May 30
Reports: Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield, Missouri, to close next year
Guy Mace's Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield, Missouri, is scheduled to close in 2027, according to several media outlets. KOLR-10 / KOZL-TV reported: Ozarks First spoke with an employee who says they’re not discussing the details as to why it’s closing, but simply said, “The owner is older and is retiring”. The employee stated the museum … Continue reading Reports: Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield, Missouri, to close next year
Nonprofit initiative seeks to convert El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff into low-cost housing
A local nonprofit initiative aims to convert the historic-but-closed El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona, into low-cost housing. El Pueblo Motel in 2019 Flagstaff resident Phil Scandura, a retired avionics engineer and architectural draftsman, talked during a phone interview about the site, also known as El Pueblo Motel, along Route 66. El Pueblo, at … Continue reading Nonprofit initiative seeks to convert El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff into low-cost housing
City of Albuquerque closes Lindy’s Diner over fears wall might collapse
Lindy's Diner in downtown Albuquerque was ordered closed Monday by the City of Albuquerque's code-enforcement division after an inspection found serious structural issues. According to KRQE-TV, inspectors discovered that the northeast exterior wall of the century-old building is at risk of collapsing and structural supports are failing, causing the roof and the second floor to … Continue reading City of Albuquerque closes Lindy’s Diner over fears wall might collapse
Gorilla installed on top of Route 66 Centennial Arch in Galena
Your eyes do not deceive you: That's an 8-foot-tall gorilla being installed on top of the Route 66 Centennial Arch in Galena, Kansas. The Gus the Gorilla is the mascot for Pittsburg State University in nearby Pittsburg, Kansas. Sign Designs in Joplin, Missouri, installed the figure, KSNF-TV reported. This entire project is the brainchild of … Continue reading Gorilla installed on top of Route 66 Centennial Arch in Galena