TEEMCO, an environmental professional engineering firm based in Edmond, Okla., announced Monday it will purchase the historic Gold Dome in Oklahoma City, move its headquarters there and preserve the structure. The impending purchase was reported by The Oklahoman newspaper in mid-June. TEEMCO made it official with a news release Monday. While preserving the striking geodesic dome structure, … Continue reading It’s official — architectural firm buying Gold Dome in Oklahoma City
Category: Preservation
Motel brings back sign destroyed in 1952 wreck
The Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven in Springfield, Mo., on Friday installed a near-replica of a directional sign that was destroyed in a traffic accident in 1952. The Springfield News-Leader reports: The 10-foot-long sign is in the shape of an arrow with the word “Springfield” pointing traffic down St. Louis Street to downtown. Below … Continue reading Motel brings back sign destroyed in 1952 wreck
U-Drop Inn will swap out neon lighting for LEDs
The historic U-Drop Inn gas station in Shamrock, Texas, soon will replace its neon lighting with durable LED tubing after a hailstorm destroyed most of the neon in May. The change -- if successful -- might signal the eventual replacement of notoriously fragile neon with LEDs on scores of historic signs on Route 66. After … Continue reading U-Drop Inn will swap out neon lighting for LEDs
Cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced six cost-share grants for 2013, totaling about $81,000. Since the program started in 2001, 114 projects have been awarded $1.6 million, with a $2.7 million in cost-share money from the recipient, totaling $4.3 million in public-private investment toward the preservation and revitalization of properties along historic Route 66 … Continue reading Cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Bono’s Restaurant gets approval to move — if he wants it
The long-closed Bono's Restaurant and Deli in Fontana, Calif., received approval Friday from the California Historical Resources Commission to move the landmark about 20 feet from Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66) so the road can be widened. Whether the owner, Joe Bono, wants to move is another matter. According to an earlier story in the … Continue reading Bono’s Restaurant gets approval to move — if he wants it
Spring River Inn sign in Riverton will be restored
The old neon sign for the long-gone Spring River Inn restaurant in Riverton, Kan., has vanished, but eventually will reappear completely restored, reported the Joplin Globe. Renee Charles, president of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association and one of the principal owners of Cars on the Route in nearby Galena, is raising funds to have the … Continue reading Spring River Inn sign in Riverton will be restored
Boots Motel honored by National Park Service
The Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., was honored Saturday by the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for removing a gabled roof and restoring the Route 66 landmark to its original, flat-roofed appearance. According to the Joplin Globe newspaper: A plaque was presented to Debye Harvey, a co-owner of the motel, by Kaisa … Continue reading Boots Motel honored by National Park Service
Take a virtual tour of Cain’s Ballroom
If you've never been to the historic Cain's Ballroom concert venue in Tulsa, here's a virtual tour courtesy of Google Maps. You can even go onto the mezzanine: View Larger Map The Google Maps images were taken this week by Mother Road Media LLC in Tulsa, which is a Google Business Tours photographer. If you … Continue reading Take a virtual tour of Cain’s Ballroom
Broadway stage manager provides face-lift to Baxter Springs museum
An alum of Baxter Springs High School in southeastern Kansas is using his talents as a stage manager on Broadway to make long-needed improvements to the Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum. According to the Joplin Globe, Brian Rardin has been working on the project for more than a year from his New York City … Continue reading Broadway stage manager provides face-lift to Baxter Springs museum
Boots Motel sign’s benefactor revealed
Friday night marked an official relighting ceremony of the Boots Motel's refurbished neon sign in Carthage, Mo. The event also revealed who made a donation of $2,500 months ago to restore the sign. That person was Ron Jones of Bartlesville, Okla. Jones is better known as "Tattoo Man" due to his more than 100 tattoos of … Continue reading Boots Motel sign’s benefactor revealed