Volunteers have scheduled a short work day on Nov. 16, to spruce up the area around the Stanley Cour-Tel signs at Henry's Rabbit Ranch on old Route 66 in Staunton, Ill. The Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs were salvaged from a Route 66 motel in west St. Louis. The signs were moved before the motel was razed … Continue reading Work day set for Nov. 16 at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Category: Preservation
Work day set for Saturday at Sprague service station
John Weiss, a longtime preservationist with the Illinois Route 66 Association, has scheduled a work day at the historic Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Ill., starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. The Sprague station was built in 1931 on Route 66 by William Sprague. It was a unique in that it appears to … Continue reading Work day set for Saturday at Sprague service station
Vic Suhling / Gas For Less sign glows again after 40-plus years
The restoration of the historic Vic Suhling / Gas For Less neon sign was unveiled Saturday evening next to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Ill. According to a news release, up to 200 people attended the event, including two of Suhling's daughters Bonnie and Bernice, one who traveled from Portland, … Continue reading Vic Suhling / Gas For Less sign glows again after 40-plus years
Repairs being made on historic Route 66 near Springfield
A 1.3-mile stretch of old Route 66 near Springfield, Ill., that is on the National Register of Historic Places is being carefully repaired this week by county road crews, according to the Springfield State Journal-Register. The 1920s section, called Olde Carriage Way, is south of East Lake Shore Drive south of Lake Springfield. Much of … Continue reading Repairs being made on historic Route 66 near Springfield
Groundbreaking held for Devil’s Elbow Bridge repairs
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Thursday for long-awaited repairs that will begin for the historic Devil's Elbow Bridge in Devil's Elbow, Mo., according to a blog entry in the Waynesville Daily Guide. The truss bridge was built in 1923, making it predate the commissioning of Route 66 by at least three years. Because a curved … Continue reading Groundbreaking held for Devil’s Elbow Bridge repairs
An explainer of the Luna Lodge’s national award
A few weeks ago, Luna Lodge in Albuquerque won a national award for converting the historic Route 66 motel into low-income housing despite numerous obstacles. The Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits Historic Rehabilitation Awards Luncheon produced this video about the Luna's honor. It explains quite well all the things NewLife Homes, which repurposed Luna Lodge, had to … Continue reading An explainer of the Luna Lodge’s national award
Downtown Plainfield named to National Register of Historic Places
Downtown Plainfield, Ill., which hosts not one, but two historic highways, was named to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an email Friday from the National Park Service. Plainfield's Downtown Historic District is bounded by Lockport, Main and Division streets. The listing was effective Sept. 18, but the NPS didn't send out the … Continue reading Downtown Plainfield named to National Register of Historic Places
Government shutdown ends; national parks along Route 66 reopen
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday night that ended the 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government. As a result, parks, campgrounds, historic sites, and services along Route 66 that are maintained by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management or U.S. Forest Service reopened Thursday morning. The Grand … Continue reading Government shutdown ends; national parks along Route 66 reopen
La Fonda finishes renovations
The historic La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, N.M., recently finished extensive renovations and showed off the results with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and open house Tuesday, according to the Sante Fe New Mexican newspaper. Upgraded furnishings, windows and color motifs, as well as improvements to the landmark hotel’s rooftop bar were on display, along with … Continue reading La Fonda finishes renovations
Groundbreaking for Devil’s Elbow Bridge repairs set for Oct. 24
The Pulaski County Commission will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, to commemorate the long-awaited start of renovations for the 90-year-old Devil's Elbow Bridge on Route 66 in Devil's Elbow, Mo., according to a news release. It will take about 10 months to renovate the bridge, so travelers should keep that … Continue reading Groundbreaking for Devil’s Elbow Bridge repairs set for Oct. 24