The historic Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville, Illinois, nicknamed the Million Dollar Courthouse, finished $200,000 in much-needed renovations, according to the State Journal-Register in nearby Springfield. The occasion will be celebrated with a program at 11 a.m. Saturday at the courthouse, followed by guided tours, an Abraham Lincoln presenter and the Macoupin County Historical Society Fall Festival. The courthouse's … Continue reading Macoupin County Courthouse finishes north-stair renovations
Category: Preservation
Huell Howser’s Volcano House goes up for sale
How'd you like to live in a 2,200-square-foot home perched on the top of an inactive volcano a few miles off Route 66? It can be yours for $650,000. It's situated a few miles north of the Route 66 hamlet of Newberry Springs, California, deep in the Mojave Desert. Notably, the house was owned by … Continue reading Huell Howser’s Volcano House goes up for sale
Tri-County Truck Stop soon will reopen as an auction house
The long-closed Tri-County Truck Stop, aka The Diamonds, along Route 66 in Villa Ridge, Missouri, soon will reopen as The Diamond's Trading Post that will host auctions twice a month. The truck stop, which closed in 2006, is slated to reopen Oct. 2. Naturally, the auction house will have a Route 66 theme. A recent … Continue reading Tri-County Truck Stop soon will reopen as an auction house
Software developer has idea for vacant Route 66 buildings
A software developer in Albuquerque has come up with a fascinating idea to help transform vacant buildings along the city's Central Avenue (aka Route 66) corridor, according to KOB-TV. Max Baptiste recently founded an initiative called We Are This City. Baptiste’s initiative will focus on transforming the exteriors of downtown vacant buildings through art and … Continue reading Software developer has idea for vacant Route 66 buildings
Grants / Milan airport building added to National Register
A 1953 flight service station building at the Grants / Milan Municipal Airport in New Mexico this month was added to the National Register of Historic Places after three years of restoration. The building, part of the Western New Mexico Aviation Heritage Museum, is designed to honor aviation pioneers of the late 1920s and '30s … Continue reading Grants / Milan airport building added to National Register
Senator urges executive order to create Mojave Trails National Monument
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has asked President Obama to bypass Congress and create the Mojave Trails National Monument in Southern California that would encompass Route 66 from the edge of Needles to Ludlow. Feinstein sent a letter Aug. 3 to the president urging him to take action after two such bills have languished in … Continue reading Senator urges executive order to create Mojave Trails National Monument
Albuquerque plans to upgrade city neon signs to LED
Deep in a KRQE-TV story about the City of Albuquerque's Route 66-themed signs -- including the archways over Central Avenue -- is this item -- the city eventually will upgrade them to LED. Apparently neon owned by the city has been experiencing trouble staying lighted for extended periods -- to the chagrin of residents and … Continue reading Albuquerque plans to upgrade city neon signs to LED
Clifton’s Cafeteria reopens Sept. 17
The historic Clifton's Cafeteria of downtown Los Angeles will reopen Sept. 17 after a $10 million, multiyear remodeling, reported Los Angeles Magazine. A few days ago, the restaurant's reopening appeared imminent because of a job fair last week. Now, there's a date. The magazine was allowed in the building to take photographs for a sneak … Continue reading Clifton’s Cafeteria reopens Sept. 17
Painted Desert Inn may serve ice cream, baked goods
The historic Painted Desert Inn in the Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona soon may partly go back to its original purpose as an eating place if the National Park Service has its way. For the first time in 75 years, the park is asking for bids from concessionaires, according to the Arizona Journal. … Continue reading Painted Desert Inn may serve ice cream, baked goods
Clifton’s Cafeteria reopening appears imminent
For the past three years, the historic Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles has undergone a massive renovation. Preservationists and the restaurant's fans had long speculated on its reopening. A reopening date for Clifton's still hasn't been set. But the date it will throw open its doors appears much closer, thanks to a Craiglist ad … Continue reading Clifton’s Cafeteria reopening appears imminent