The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday easily approved the Omnibus Lands Bill that contains a measure that would reauthorize the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years. The House passed it by a 285-140 tally. The bill had been approved by the Senate 77-20 last week. The lands bill now goes to … Continue reading House passes bill that would renew Route 66 program
Category: Preservation
Blue Dome building will become trolley depot
The T-Town Trolley, a which is actually a nicely decorated bus that gives rides to various entertainment districts throughout Tulsa, is marking its first anniversary. KJRH-TV is reporting on a development with the trolleys that's even more significant to roadies: But Lund is more excited about the location that will serve as the depot for … Continue reading Blue Dome building will become trolley depot
Try, try again
The U.S. Senate approved the Omnibus Public Lands Bill, which contains a measure to renew the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years, by a 77-20 vote on Thursday. If that sounds familiar, it should. The Senate approved a similar measure a few weeks ago. But the House, under rules that required a … Continue reading Try, try again
Museum acquires Wishing Well Motel memorabilia
The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum has acquired memorabilia from the razed Wishing Well Motel in Countryside, Ill., including the wishing well itself, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The motel, which was built in 1941, was owned and operated by father and son Charles and Emil Vidas and their wives. Charles’ wife, Zora … Continue reading Museum acquires Wishing Well Motel memorabilia
Updates from Kingman
Jim Hinckley, an author and roadie in Kingman, Ariz., recently sent me Route 66 updates regarding his town. Demolition has begun on a block of several moribund and closed businesses on Route 66, including the City Cafe, the Imperial Motel and a Texaco gas station that dated to the 1940s. A Walgreens drug store is … Continue reading Updates from Kingman
Route 66 national monument proposed in Mojave
The fledgling national Route 66 Alliance is proposing making a national monument out of an area of Mojave Desert in Southern California to protect 70 miles of Route 66, reports the Press-Enterprise. According to the newspaper, the proposal would: -- Designate "Mother Road National Monument," which could be twice as big as Joshua Tree National … Continue reading Route 66 national monument proposed in Mojave
Lake Overholser Bridge to be repaired
The historic Lake Overholser Bridge, on an old alignment of Route 66 in the western edge of Oklahoma City, will eventually be rehabilitated without affecting its appearance. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association informed me that the bridge had been recently closed to traffic because it had deteriorated too much. However, a letter from David Wrights … Continue reading Lake Overholser Bridge to be repaired
Bridge near Vinita named to National Register
A 1926 bridge on Route 66 east of Vinita, Okla., was named to the National Register of Historic Places, effective March 4, according to a release sent today by the National Park Service. The bridge is over the Little Cabin Creek on what is also U.S. 60/69 east of town. I don't have a photo … Continue reading Bridge near Vinita named to National Register
Palms Grill to reopen next month
The historic Palms Grill on Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Ill., will reopen in early April after extensive renovations, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The goal is to have as many 1930s and 1940s items as possible, as well as provide a place for locals and Route 66 travelers to share stories, said Bill Thomas, board … Continue reading Palms Grill to reopen next month
Rancho Cucamonga station may be designated a landmark
The abandoned Cucamonga Service Station on Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., may be designated by the city as a historic landmark, reports the Contra Costa Times. The Planning Commission made the recommendation, and the City Council must approve the landmark status. Such designation would require the Mission-styled station have an extra layer of approval … Continue reading Rancho Cucamonga station may be designated a landmark