A Route 66 centennial monument was dedicated Friday at the historic Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma. Members of the surviving Threatt family, which have worked for the past several years to preserve the structure, attended the event. According to the Luther Register News, Edward Threatt Sr., who manages the station, announced … Continue reading Route 66 centennial monument dedicated at Threatt Filling Station
Category: Preservation
Ground broken on project to move Chrysler Plymouth neon sign in Bristow to Route 66
Local officials, including the Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, presided Friday over a groundbreaking ceremony to move the historic but long-abandoned Chrysler Plymouth tower sign in Bristow, Oklahoma, to Route 66 in town and restore the neon. KJRH-TV in nearby Tulsa reported that a state Route 66 revitalization grant is covering $700,000 of the $1 million … Continue reading Ground broken on project to move Chrysler Plymouth neon sign in Bristow to Route 66
Restraining order stops removal of New Mexico Route 66 Museum artifacts, demands their return
A judge on Wednesday granted a request for a temporary restraining order against the operators of the closed New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari, New Mexico, that stops them from removing artifacts and demands the return of the ones that were moved. The petition for the order accuses the museum’s operators of “willful misconduct, … Continue reading Restraining order stops removal of New Mexico Route 66 Museum artifacts, demands their return
Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita soon will add a second Muffler Man
The Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita, Oklahoma, recently announced it had acquired a second Muffler Man that will be added to its premises. The Route 66 restaurant stated on Facebook that it will move its Big Bill fiberglass statue next door to its Western Motel and its fabulous neon sign. That's so it makes way for … Continue reading Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita soon will add a second Muffler Man
City of Flagstaff may acquire historic Orpheum Theatre
City councilors for Flagstaff, Arizona, recently expressed unanimous interest in possibly acquiring The Orpheum Theater soon. The Arizona Daily Sun newspaper published a recent account of the meeting: The agreement by the city council to “move forward” with conversations about the potential acquisition does not commit the city to a purchase. Members of the council … Continue reading City of Flagstaff may acquire historic Orpheum Theatre
Expert: Muffler Men seeing a resurgence across the U.S.
Joel Baker, an expert on the Muffler Men made in the 1960s and '70s, reported something I've suspected for a few years -- that those fiberglass giants are seeing a big resurgence across the country. Baker in this recent video recounts all the activity seen with new and old Muffler Men, including along the Route … Continue reading Expert: Muffler Men seeing a resurgence across the U.S.
Art Deco dairy building along Route 66 in Tulsa to be converted into a boutique hotel
The 75-year-old Hawks Dairy Building at 11th Street (aka Route 66) and Lewis Avenue will be converted into part of a 100-room, full-service boutique hotel. Local developer Kimberly Honea, along with her business partner, Daniel Dolins of Chicago, told the Tulsa World newspaper about her plans for the large building located almost directly across from … Continue reading Art Deco dairy building along Route 66 in Tulsa to be converted into a boutique hotel
Sprague’s Super Service station in Normal receives $150,000 grant
The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau won a $150,000 state tourism grant for further restorations to Sprague’s Super Service in Normal, Illinois, before Route 66's centennial next year. According to WGLT radio, the money comes from the Route 66 Grant Program, which aims to preserve and educate travelers along the state's Route 66 corridor. The funds … Continue reading Sprague’s Super Service station in Normal receives $150,000 grant
Original stretch of Route 66 opens to public at Carpenter Park in Springfield
The City of Springfield, Illinois, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the opening of a quarter-mile stretch of original Route 66 in Carpenter Park to the public. The 16-foot-wide roadway, which had served as Route 66 from 1926 to 1936, sat unused and mostly neglected for 90 years. More from Capital City Now: … Continue reading Original stretch of Route 66 opens to public at Carpenter Park in Springfield
Viking Carpet giant installed at American Giants Museum
The American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois, has added another very tall artifact. This time, it's the Viking Carpet giant, originally hailing from Virginia, that was installed at the Route 66 landmark. It was purchased two years ago and restored. The Viking giant stands alongside the Phillips 66 Cowboy and a Snerd at the museum. … Continue reading Viking Carpet giant installed at American Giants Museum