The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Illinois, recently acquired space that housed the world's first Dairy Queen restaurant. That first DQ, which opened in 1940, was in a brick, two-story building at 501 N. Chicago St., though the building itself dates to the 1890s. Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, talked to the Joliet … Continue reading Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen
Category: Preservation
Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center
The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, recently opened to the public its Boots Court Motel Visitors Center, housed in a former Sinclair gas station adjacent to the Route 66 property. The motel opened the facility during Maple Leaf Festival weekend, which is Carthage's biggest event. More about it: A grand opening for the … Continue reading Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center
Neon sign at Webb City Florist is restored
The restoration of the historic neon sign for Webb City Florist in Webb City, Missouri, was unveiled during a ceremony last week hosted by the Route 66 Association of Missouri. Association President Rich Dinkela hosted a brief Facebook Live event from the night: Here are more images from the association: And here's an image from … Continue reading Neon sign at Webb City Florist is restored
Collectible investment firm offers shares of Mickey Mantle childhood home in Commerce
Want an ownership piece of Mickey Mantle's childhood home just off old Route 66 in Commerce, Oklahoma? A collectibles investment firm is offering it for $7 a share. Mantle wore No. 7 when he played his fabled major-league baseball career with the New York Yankees. The Rally firm set up a website -- at themantlehouse.com … Continue reading Collectible investment firm offers shares of Mickey Mantle childhood home in Commerce
Grand Canyon officials: Knock it off with the love locks
A recent social media post by Grand Canyon National Park about so-called "love locks" got a lot of attention in recent days. Love locks are padlocks often hung from a metal fence, usually bearing a couple’s name or initials, with the key then thrown into a nearby lake or river -- symbolizing unbroken love. The … Continue reading Grand Canyon officials: Knock it off with the love locks
Amazing Grace Ministries seeks photos, stories about El Sueno Motor Court in Claremore
Amazing Grace Ministries is seeking photographs and stories about El Sueno Motor Court along old Route 66 in Claremore, Oklahoma, so it can make appropriate repairs to at least one of the buildings. Laurie Paquette Ault, a member of the First Methodist Church in the city, said in a phone interview the owner has allowed … Continue reading Amazing Grace Ministries seeks photos, stories about El Sueno Motor Court in Claremore
Old Courthouse in St. Louis undergoing renovations through mid-2025
The landmark Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis is undergoing $27.5 million in renovations through the middle of 2025. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the project will include four new exhibits, more accessibility and structural improvements. The Old Courthouse is part of the nearby Gateway Arch National Park complex. Both are fewer than 10 blocks … Continue reading Old Courthouse in St. Louis undergoing renovations through mid-2025
City of Tulsa now offering facade matching grants for historic buildings along Route 66
The City of Tulsa announced it is offering matching grants of up to $40,000 to help restore the facades of historic buildings along its Route 66 alignments. The grant program was established with the help of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission. The announcement was made at the historic Circle Cinema, which undoubtedly would be eligible … Continue reading City of Tulsa now offering facade matching grants for historic buildings along Route 66
Consultant estimates the cost of redeveloping Joplin’s Union Depot at $6.7M
The Downtown Joplin Alliance in Joplin, Missouri, this month will ask for redevelopment proposals for the city's long-closed Union Depot and assess them in February. A consultant estimated the cost of restoring the century-old site would be $6.7 million, though others have estimated it as high as $10 million. Among the ideas for the depot … Continue reading Consultant estimates the cost of redeveloping Joplin’s Union Depot at $6.7M
City of Normal to return Sprague’s Super Service Station to its original footprint
The town council of Normal, Illinois, recently voted to spend $300,000 on work on three historic properties in the city, including the Sprague's Super Service Station along Route 66, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The station's previous owner, Terri Ryburn, told Route 66 News the work will include removing the 1960s one-bay garage and restoring the … Continue reading City of Normal to return Sprague’s Super Service Station to its original footprint