Post by Jax JustJax. A group of about 20 Route 66 enthusiasts staged a rally Tuesday on the east side of the historic Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri, to plead with the state to repair, not replace, the deteriorating span. "Roamin' Rich" Dinkela organized the effort within the past few days. The bridge was … Continue reading Route 66 fans rally for endangered bridge
Category: Preservation
Three people try to make Route 66 more interesting
In recent days, newspapers have profiled three people hundreds of miles apart who are doing their part to try to dress up old stretches of Route 66. West of Needles, California, the Needles Desert Star reports Jim Nickel -- originally from Oregon -- has built several monuments to the branches of the U.S. military from … Continue reading Three people try to make Route 66 more interesting
Missouri closes Gasconade River Bridge
The 90-year-old Gasconade River Bridge that carries Route 66 near Hazelgreen, Missouri, was closed by the Missouri Department of Transportation a few days ago, and its reopening remains indefinite. According to a MoDOT page of unplanned bridge closures and restrictions, the bridge was closed Dec. 18 due to "multiple areas of concern ... and continued … Continue reading Missouri closes Gasconade River Bridge
White House petitioned to designate Route 66 a national landmark
Someone launched a We the People petition drive to the White House Sunday to designate "Old Route 66" as a historic landmark. The creator of the petition is listed as J.W. (I don't know who he or she is) of Springfield, Oregon, and has made the rounds on Facebook. The petitioner described the petition as … Continue reading White House petitioned to designate Route 66 a national landmark
Santo Domingo Trading Post may reopen by 2016
The historic Santo Domingo Trading Post at Santo Domingo, New Mexico, apparently has set a tentative reopening in 2016 after years of rebuilding following a devastating fire nearly 15 years ago. The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, checking on the post being repainted by cartoonist Ricardo Cate, had this to report: Although work is about … Continue reading Santo Domingo Trading Post may reopen by 2016
One Whiting Bros. sign relighted
The good news last week was that one of the refurbished neon signs at still-operating Whiting Bros. station in Moriarty, New Mexico, was relighted to much fanfare. The bad news was, because of technical problems, the second sign didn't relight. Here's a video from the Mountain View Telegraph newspaper of the relighting. If the embedding … Continue reading One Whiting Bros. sign relighted
Rialto Square Theatre will get a new marquee
The historic Rialto Square Theatre along Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, soon will receive a new marquee and will repaint its iconic vertical sign thanks to a $350,000 gift from a local construction firm owner, reported The Herald-News. The new marquee will have LED screens suitable for video under the name of the theater. Ed Czerkies of … Continue reading Rialto Square Theatre will get a new marquee
Albuquerque considers turning abandoned signs into public art
Albuquerque is considering an ordinance change that would make it easier to turn vacant and abandoned signs along old Route 66 into public art, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Ellen Babcock of the Friends of the Orphan Signs nonprofit is one of those who support the idea. The newspaper said: The art can be featured on … Continue reading Albuquerque considers turning abandoned signs into public art
Bill Shea’s Route 66 Museum put up for sale
Bill Shea's Route 66 Museum in Springfield, Illinois, has been put on the market after the property cleared probate following the longtime owner's death in December, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. The newspaper noted the museum's Facebook page had this message a few days ago: Post by Shea's Route 66 Museum. According to the newspaper: … Continue reading Bill Shea’s Route 66 Museum put up for sale
Skylark Motel tower glows again
The former Skylark Motel tower on old Route 66 in St. Clair, Missouri, shined with the glow of neon again after a ceremony Saturday night at the building, which now serves as the VFW Post 2482. According to a news release about the event, about 150 people attending cheered when the light switch was thrown … Continue reading Skylark Motel tower glows again