The Coleman Theatre in Miami, Oklahoma, will mark its 90th anniversary Thursday with a screening of "The Wizard of Oz" and other festivities that night. The theater asked the public on Facebook which film it would most like to see, and "Gone With the Wind" was the winner. However, management nixed it because of its … Continue reading Coleman Theatre in Miami to mark 90th birthday on Thursday
Category: Preservation
Neon sign installed at Kum & Go at old 66 section in Springfield
The owners of the soon-to-open Kum & Go convenience store at a corner in Springfield, Missouri, that contained an original stretch of Route 66 pledged it would pay tribute to the Mother Road. It appears to have kept that promise. Jonathan Sharp posted these pictures on Facebook of an elaborate neon sign on the side … Continue reading Neon sign installed at Kum & Go at old 66 section in Springfield
Fender’s River Road Resort sign removed for restoration
The historic neon sign at Fender's River Road Resort in Needles, California, recently was removed so it can be restored. Photographer KC Keefer, who launched a fundraising effort in early 2018 to restore the sign, sent out a news release Wednesday that stated: The plan is to completely refurbish the neon “Motel” sign at Fenders … Continue reading Fender’s River Road Resort sign removed for restoration
Castaneda Hotel reopens to overnight guests
The Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, reopened Monday to seven overnight guests. Another seven rooms will be open in a few days, and its saloon will open later this month. It had been more than 50 years since the Castaneda operated as a hotel. It also appears the century-old former Harvey House is … Continue reading Castaneda Hotel reopens to overnight guests
Joplin CVB to sell off 1920s garage it once considered for visitors center
The Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau stated last week it likely would sell a 1920s-era garage it once considered renovating into a Route 66 visitors center. The city in 2014 purchased the garage at 1109 Broadway (aka Route 66) and several adjoining lots for $18,500. The city spent nearly $5,000 more to repair the structure's … Continue reading Joplin CVB to sell off 1920s garage it once considered for visitors center
Tulsa to begin taking neon-sign applications Monday
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission on Monday will begin taking applications to restore old neon signs or create new ones along the city's stretch of the Mother Road. According to Public Radio Tulsa: The grants will provide dollar-for-dollar matches up to $10,000 for half the cost of new or refurbished neon signs along both alignments … Continue reading Tulsa to begin taking neon-sign applications Monday
Southwest Museum in Los Angeles put up for sale
The historic Southwest Museum in Los Angeles officially was put up for sale by the Autry Museum of the American West 16 years after its merger. According to LAist, the Autry spent about $20 million on renovations and upkeep since acquiring the property in 2003. "The future has arrived," Autry president and CEO W. Richard … Continue reading Southwest Museum in Los Angeles put up for sale
Painted Desert Trading Post gets a new roof
The ongoing quest to stabilize the long-closed Painted Desert Trading Post building in eastern Arizona received a major boost last week when volunteers installed a new roof on the structure. Workers -- many with the Route 66 Co-op that owns the landmark -- stripped off the porous and rotted old roof, installed a new roof … Continue reading Painted Desert Trading Post gets a new roof
A few thoughts on the AP’s story on the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
A few days ago, Russell Contreras, a reporter with the Associated Press' Albuquerque bureau, filed a story last week about the imminent demise of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. Because AP stories fly all over the globe and are picked up by dozens of news outlets, I thought I'd better address some of the … Continue reading A few thoughts on the AP’s story on the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Aztec Hotel of Monrovia faces June 5 deadline for finishing improvements
The owner of the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, California, faces a June 5 deadline to finish improvements or he'll have to do a lot more work on the historic Route 66 property. Qin Han Chen bought the hotel at 311 W. Foothill Blvd. (aka Route 66) in 2012 after it was foreclosed. It had closed … Continue reading Aztec Hotel of Monrovia faces June 5 deadline for finishing improvements