The Omnibus Public Lands Act, which contained a provision to renew the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years, suffered a setback when it fell two votes short of passage in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. The bill was favored 282-144 in the House, but a procedural tactic by Democrats required … Continue reading Bill to renew Route 66 program suffers setback
Category: Preservation
Mark your calendars
An e-mailed update from the City of Tulsa today says that Claude Neon Federal Signs will begin re-erecting the neon-festooned letters of the historic Meadow Gold sign at 11th Street and Quaker Avenue in Tulsa on April 6. Claude estimates it will take about a week to completely install those letters. So, in about a … Continue reading Mark your calendars
Route 66 makes Preservation Oklahoma’s most-endangered list
Preservation Oklahoma this week placed Route 66 resources on its 2009 list of the state's most endangered historic places. The group said: Mom-and-pop motor courts, tourist cabins, restaurants, neon signs , roadbeds and bridges are all part of the Route 66 structures that sprang up in the 1920s. Today, many have gone out of business … Continue reading Route 66 makes Preservation Oklahoma’s most-endangered list
Meadow Gold sign update
It looks like the main structure for the re-erection of the historic Meadow Gold sign in Tulsa is nearly complete. I e-mailed Dennis Whitaker in the City of Tulsa's Planning Department and asked about the status of the sign. This is a partial reply I received Wednesday: Yes, the structure is pretty much done. There … Continue reading Meadow Gold sign update
Painted Desert Inn photos wanted
Some roadies with photo archives might be able to help with this project. From the Examiner.com: Petrified Forest National Park is looking for photos taken at the Painted Desert Inn during the 1940s and 1950s. Specifically, the park is looking for any photos that show the soda fountain counter and stools in what was known … Continue reading Painted Desert Inn photos wanted
Rebuilding the Rock Cafe
This is the man who's behind the rebuilding of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla. He is David Burke, owner of David Burke Historic Preservation, based in Perry, Okla. He's the one who is directing the painstakingly reconstruction of the Route 66 restaurant after a devastating fire last May. And he's reasonably certain the Rock … Continue reading Rebuilding the Rock Cafe
Paul Harvey, R.I.P.
Paul Harvey, a legend in radio for more than 50 years, died at age 90 Saturday at a hospital near Phoenix. Rather than recount Harvey's unique delivery and his many accomplishments in broadcasting, it should be known that the Tulsa native also left his own unique stamp on Route 66 at least twice. First, Harvey … Continue reading Paul Harvey, R.I.P.
Bid approved to move historic depot
A bid of $25,000 from Odie Construction of Kankakee, Ill., was approved by the City of Braidwood, Ill., to move its 1867 historic railroad depot to Main and Center streets this spring, reported the Joliet Herald News. The depot had been at Route 66 and Illinois 113, but a nearby grocery store wanted the property … Continue reading Bid approved to move historic depot
Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Megan Gambino in the March issue of Smithsonian magazine takes a somewhat dour look at the Mother Road. Here's an excerpt: Writing about the Joad family's journey from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the promised land of California in The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck famously called Route 66 the "mother road." But today … Continue reading Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Cost-share grant season begins now
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is taking applications for its annual cost-share grants. Applications may be submitted to the program office until May 1. Applications are available here or by e-mailing IM_rt66@nps.gov . Most grants will cover up to 50 percent of a project's cost; many of them have to do with preserving a … Continue reading Cost-share grant season begins now