With the U.S. economy struggling, politicians are looking for ways to create jobs. But one office-seeker in Canadian County, Okla., has an idea that would prove destructive to a historic section of Route 66. Larry Nance, an Oklahoma Route 66 Association county representative in El Reno, said at the association's meeting Sunday that such an … Continue reading A destructive development idea
Category: Preservation
Notes from the road
The historic Riviera Restaurant on Route 66 in Gardner, Ill., reopened on New Year's Eve. Check out this story in the Batavia Sun about it. However, there is one potential snag that will be worth watching: The new owner is dealing with a request from the Gardner Fire Department to put in an expensive commercial … Continue reading Notes from the road
Not just any meeting
The quarterly meeting of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, set for Jan. 16 after a noon lunch at Matt's Steakhouse in Rolla, isn't going to be just any meeting, according to a report by Three Rivers Publishing. First, a Missouri Department of Transportation official will be discussing the Old Route 66 Bridge at Route … Continue reading Not just any meeting
Joplin museum director Q&A
Brad Belk, the director for the Joplin (Mo.) Museum Complex, answered questions from Joplin Globe readers about his proposal for a one-sixth-cent sales tax to move the museum and its contents to historic Memorial Hall. Most of the questions are worth perusing, but his answer from a person who asked why the historic railroad depot … Continue reading Joplin museum director Q&A
Comprehensive study planned for Route 66 in California
The California Preservation Foundation and the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program are joining forces to begin a first-ever comprehensive study of that state's portion of historic Route 66, according to a news release Monday from the foundation. The study will be completed as a Multiple Property Documentation Form, a format used to nominate groups of … Continue reading Comprehensive study planned for Route 66 in California
Senator to propose national monument along Route 66 in Mojave
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will introduce legislation today that will establish a national monument along Route 66 from Needles to Ludlow, Calif., reported the Los Angeles Times. It would be called the Mojave Trails National Monument, instead of the Mother Road National Monument that was proposed earlier. It would prohibit development along 941,000 acres … Continue reading Senator to propose national monument along Route 66 in Mojave
Cruise the Neon Road
KNME-TV in New Mexico has just posted on YouTube its award-winning "The Neon Road" documentary from 2003. It's about 25 minutes, but well worth your time.
Some clarity on the Route 66 State Park Bridge
Jane Lee, a historian with the Missouri Department of Transportation, sent me this e-mail regarding the endangered Route 66 Bridge at Route 66 State Park near Eureka, Mo. It's lengthy, but probably worth your time: I just wanted to send you a quick note since I have been closely following the news that you have … Continue reading Some clarity on the Route 66 State Park Bridge
The remaking of Tulsa’s Meadow Gold sign
Here's a cool excerpt from the film "Tulsa A to Z" about the refurbishment of the historic Meadow Gold neon sign, which can be found at near Peoria Avenue and 11th Street (aka Route 66). "Tulsa A to Z" is the latest edition from Jack Frank's acclaimed Tulsa history film series.
A closer look at Goffs
Claudia Heller, in her ongoing series about Route 66 for the several Southern California newspapers, has produced an engaging story about the near-ghost town of Goffs, Calif. The most newsworthy item is that the Goffs Library, located next to the historic Goffs Schoolhouse, was recently built and will house the Mojave Desert Archives. The building … Continue reading A closer look at Goffs