A little more than an hour ago, the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere that had been in a buried for five decades in a time capsule in downtown Tulsa, Okla., was hoisted out of the ground and placed on a flatbed truck. The car is now undergoing inspections by classic-car restorer Boyd Coddington. The protective wrapping will … Continue reading It’s out of the ground
Category: Preservation
Roy’s owner, preservation group form partnership
Albert Okura, owner of Route 66 icon Roy's and the town of Amboy, Calif., has formed a partnership with the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation to help get the business up and running again, it was reported Thursday. The Victorville (Calif.) Daily Press published a story about the announcement today. But some information seemed to … Continue reading Roy’s owner, preservation group form partnership
Route 66 motels — a closer look
Ed Stoddard of Reuters takes a closer look at Route 66 motels that were listed as threatened by the National Trust of Historic Preservation. The article includes a nighttime photo of the neon sign of the Western Motel, which nearly was lost because of bad management until its owner cleaned up the place.
Route 66 motels make National Trust’s most-endangered list
The National Trust for Historic Preservation included Route 66 motels on its annual list of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, which was announced today in Washington, D.C. America’s priceless heritage is at risk—from the storied waterfronts of Brooklyn to the neon-clad mom-and-pop motels of Route 66—some of America’s most irreplaceable landmarks are threatened. [...] … Continue reading Route 66 motels make National Trust’s most-endangered list
Inklings of a Route 66 motel revival
Using the restoration of Roy's in Amboy, Calif., to anchor the story, the New York Times' real-estate section a few days ago reported there are signs of new interest in protecting and refurbishing old motels on Route 66. The whole article is excellent, but this excerpt about the City of Albuquerque's long, continuing fight to … Continue reading Inklings of a Route 66 motel revival
Pilgrims start to arrive
Those who have waited years to see the unearthing of a 1957 Plymouth Belevdere from a time capsule began arriving in Tulsa, Okla., on Tuesday, reported the Tulsa World. The newspaper talked to visitors from California, Georgia and England. Excavation of the burial vault that contained the Plymouth started Tuesday. There was, frankly, not that … Continue reading Pilgrims start to arrive
Look at me
A few days ago, we reported that the Mule Trading Post near Rolla, Mo., had restored an old, animated hillbilly sign that once graced the Hillbilly Store. Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog was in the area and shot a photo of the restored sign, shown above. The hillbilly's arms wave, no doubt drawing the … Continue reading Look at me
Get out the shovels
This Friday at noon, after 50 years underground, a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere will be unearthed from a time capsule at Sixth Street and Denver Avenue in downtown Tulsa, Okla. Later that day, the Belvedere will be unveiled before an audience at the Tulsa Convention Center and live on television and the Internet. The car was … Continue reading Get out the shovels
More of The Mill may be preserved
In a Springfield (Ill.) Journal-Register story about the city of Lincoln's attempt to revive The Mill, a dilapidated, long-closed restaurant on Route 66, there is some good news: Now, the foundation chairman says more of the structure can be saved than was first thought, including the original portion of the building. “It’s in better shape … Continue reading More of The Mill may be preserved
Route 66, Iraq historical sites named most threatened
As threatened as Route 66's historical sites are, it at least it has one thing in its favor: The country in which they are located is not at war. The World Monuments Fund today included Iraq archaeological sites and Route 66 on its 2008 watch list of 100 threatened sites around the globe. The group … Continue reading Route 66, Iraq historical sites named most threatened