The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program on Wednesday announced it awarded seven cost-share grants totaling about $87,000 for preservation or historical research. Since 2001, the program has awarded 146 cost-share grants totaling $2.17 million. The program tentatively has planned to award more grants in 2019 before it expires that year. Here are the 2018 awardees, … Continue reading 2018 cost-share grants for Route 66 sites announced
Category: Preservation
Rock Creek Bridge near Sapulpa closed to vehicular traffic
The historic Rock Creek Bridge west of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, closed to traffic for the second time in five years after flunking an inspection. The Route 66 Alliance, based in nearby Tulsa, stated on its Facebook page Tuesday the bridge will stay open to pedestrians, however, as an engineering firm figures out what to do next. … Continue reading Rock Creek Bridge near Sapulpa closed to vehicular traffic
Blue Swallow Motel of Tucumcari put up for sale
Acknowledging "mixed feelings," the owners of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, announced they have put the iconic Route 66 property on the market. Co-owners Kevin and Nancy Mueller made the announcement Monday night in a Facebook post. It stated: We’ve given our hearts, souls, and financial resources over eight seasons, working to … Continue reading Blue Swallow Motel of Tucumcari put up for sale
Restoration of old Santa Fe locomotive hits milestone
For the first time in more than a half-century, the boilers were fired up on the Santa Fe 2926 steam locomotive in Albuquerque -- a major milestone for a group of railroad buffs that have worked to restore the train for about 15 years. The Albuquerque Journal was there Wednesday when the New Mexico Steam Locomotive … Continue reading Restoration of old Santa Fe locomotive hits milestone
Vinita wins $25,000 to help enhance its downtown
The city of Vinita, Oklahoma, received a $25,000 AARP Community Challenge Grant to help improve its downtown, including the Route 66 corridor. KSNF-TV reports about 1,600 towns applied for the grant, and only 129 won it. Here's what Vinita will do with the money: The Vinita Route 66 Breezeway Project will make the downtown area more … Continue reading Vinita wins $25,000 to help enhance its downtown
Gasconade River Bridge Guardians issue progress report
The Route 66 Gasconade River Bridge Guardians this week issued a report on its activities to preserve the closed historic bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri. The group met in St. Louis on Sunday. Here is a summary of the meeting, as described on a post on Facebook on Thursday: -- The group's fundraising efforts have generated … Continue reading Gasconade River Bridge Guardians issue progress report
Lexington Hotel in Gallup goes up for sale
The historic Lexington Hotel in downtown Gallup, New Mexico, has been put up for sale by the nonprofit organization that owns it. According to a story by the Associated Press, CARE 66, which owns the building, said it no longer has the money to keep it. CARE 66 Executive Director Sanjay Choudhrie says the organization … Continue reading Lexington Hotel in Gallup goes up for sale
66,000 signatures sought for Route 66 National Historic Trail petition
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and the National Trust for Historic Preservation this week announced a goal of 66,000 signatures for a petition supporting the designation of Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. The groups stated in a news released they want to meet that goal by Nov. 11, which is the widely … Continue reading 66,000 signatures sought for Route 66 National Historic Trail petition
Architect sought for Red Cedar Inn project in Pacific
The city of Pacific, Missouri, has begun a search for an architect who can renovate the long-closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant along Route 66 and transform it into a local history and welcome center. According to the Washington Missourian newspaper: The city has published a request for qualifications (RFQ) through newspapers and the American Institute … Continue reading Architect sought for Red Cedar Inn project in Pacific
Vintage photo of John’s Modern Cabins surfaces
Route 66 postcard collector and author Joe Sonderman recently helped unearth a long-forgotten photograph of John's Modern Cabins near Newburg, Missouri, taken in August 1966. Sonderman posted the image -- along with another rare photograph of nearby Vernelle's Motel during the same period -- on Saturday on Facebook. To date, the 1966 photo of John's … Continue reading Vintage photo of John’s Modern Cabins surfaces