The city of Joliet, Illinois, proposed an allocation of $50,000 to the Joliet Area Historical Museum to help cover expenses in reopening the historic Joliet prison. If funding goes through as expected, Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, said it could start tours inside the old Joliet Correctional Center later this month. The Herald-News reported: The … Continue reading Joliet may use $50,000 for old prison, reopen this month
Category: Preservation
A Route 66 tale of two cities
A story in The Conversation website, titled "Could New Legislation Lead to a Route 66 Economic Revival?" by Arizona State University historian and grad student Daniel Milowksi has attracted a lot of attention, especially since it was picked up by the Associated Press. In it, Milowski examines the history of Route 66 and how a … Continue reading A Route 66 tale of two cities
Sign at Jack Rabbit Trading Post gets a face-lift
The co-owners of the historic Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Joseph City, Arizona, announced Friday they had completed a restoration of the west side of the business' iconic "Here It Is" sign. In a Facebook post, the owners said the 27-day project "took longer than expected," but they dealt with rain and wind a few … Continue reading Sign at Jack Rabbit Trading Post gets a face-lift
Mel’s Drive-In opens at Route 66 western terminus
The newest site of Mel's Drive-In restaurant opened Tuesday, and it happens to be at the official western terminus of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California. The iconic 1950s-themed restaurant already has locations at Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Los Angeles, and countless movies and television shows were shot there. The long-anticipated latest site stands … Continue reading Mel’s Drive-In opens at Route 66 western terminus
National Trust places Route 66 on its endangered list
The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Tuesday included Route 66 among its annual 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list and urged Congress to name it as a national historic trail. It was the second time Route 66 made the National Trust's most-endangered list. A smaller part of the Mother Road made the list in … Continue reading National Trust places Route 66 on its endangered list
The Tropics sign relighted for the first time in 15 years
The restored neon sign for the now-defunct The Tropics restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, was relighted Sunday evening in front of a crowd of hundreds of people. The Lincoln Courier newspaper posted this short video of the countdown to the relighting: Here's what the sign looked like in the daytime, a few hours before the ceremony. … Continue reading The Tropics sign relighted for the first time in 15 years
Ariston Cafe likely will have new owners by mid-July
The historic Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, is under contract to have new owners by mid-July after the Route 66 establishment belonged to the same family for more than 90 years. Marty and Kara Steffens, co-owners of the Maverick Steaks & Spirits restaurant in Litchfield, are scheduled to take over the reins of the Ariston by … Continue reading Ariston Cafe likely will have new owners by mid-July
Spivey Building in East St. Louis may be doomed
Residents are running out of patience with the historic but long-abandoned Spivey Building of East St. Louis -- the tallest skyscraper in the metro-east -- and it seems demolition will come sooner than later. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch filed a report last week about failed attempts to rehabilitate the 12-story skyscraper and how bricks and … Continue reading Spivey Building in East St. Louis may be doomed
The Tropics sign returns to Lincoln
Workers from Ace Sign Co. on Friday returned The Tropics sign, now restored, to its original home in Lincoln, Illinois. An official relighting ceremony will occur the evening of June 24. A staffer for The Herald-News took photos of workers reinstalling the sign. A slide show of images are in this YouTube video. https://youtu.be/4iC7-6udNa4 The … Continue reading The Tropics sign returns to Lincoln
Illinois launches Route 66 motorcycle plate program
Illinois motorcycle owners now can join car owners in the Land of Lincoln by registering for an Route 66 license plate. According to a news release from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway: Bill Kelly, executive director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, observed that "Illinois residents that ride will now be able to … Continue reading Illinois launches Route 66 motorcycle plate program