The oft-overlooked but historically rich town of Brooklyn, Illinois, recently was added to Landmarks Illinois' annual Most Endangered Places list. For the uninitiated, Brooklyn (aka Lovejoy) sits on Illinois Highway 3 between East St. Louis and Madison in the metro-east area of St. Louis. Illinois 3 was an alignment of Route 66 from 1929 to … Continue reading Route 66 town of Brooklyn, Illinois, added to Landmarks Illinois’ Most Endangered Places list
Category: Preservation
‘Big Indian’ statue in Massachusetts moving to Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita
What is Massachusetts' loss apparently is Oklahoma Route 66's gain. The Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma, recently acquired the so-called "Big Indian" that stood outside the Native and Himalayan Views, formerly the Big Indian Shop, for nearly 50 years in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. According to the Greenfield Recorder, the 20-foot-tall fiberglass statue was the subject … Continue reading ‘Big Indian’ statue in Massachusetts moving to Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita
“CBS Saturday Morning” airs a feature about Threatt Filling Station preservation
"CBS Saturday Morning" yesterday aired a 4 1/2-minute segment about recent preservation efforts for the Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma. The camera crew caught up with volunteers from the Oklahoma Historical Society, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Guthrie Job Corps and The Hope Crew when they were shoring up the century-old property in … Continue reading “CBS Saturday Morning” airs a feature about Threatt Filling Station preservation
Albuquerque sets aside $432,000 to restore or renovate historic Route 66 signs
The City of Albuquerque this week announced it is providing a total of $432,000 in grants to restore or renovate historic signs along its Central Avenue (aka Route 66). The city's Department of Arts and Culture and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency have developed a Sign Improvement Program for owners of historic signs who can restore … Continue reading Albuquerque sets aside $432,000 to restore or renovate historic Route 66 signs
President Biden designates new monument near Grand Canyon
President Joe Biden this week designated nearly 1 million acres as a new national monument near Grand Canyon National Park. The national monument will be called Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. "Baaj Nwaavjo" means "where tribes roam" in the native Havasupai language, and "I'tah Kukveni" means "our ancestral footprints" in the Hopi tribal … Continue reading President Biden designates new monument near Grand Canyon
Clinton City Council approves demolition bid for Glancy Motel, but not without some resistance
The Clinton, Oklahoma, City Council a few days ago approved a demolition bid to tear down the Glancy Motel as expected, but not without hearing an earful from a few preservationists. The motel will make way for a new headquarters for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Accepting the demo bid was recommended just days before by … Continue reading Clinton City Council approves demolition bid for Glancy Motel, but not without some resistance
Renovations on Imperial Inn motel in Albuquerque likely will be finished by fall
A two-year renovation project on the once-troubled Imperial Inn motel in Albuquerque likely will be completed by the autumn. The motel at 701 Central Ave. (aka Route 66) will have 52 guest rooms, 16 residential suites and several businesses. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque filed this report: According to RoadsideArchitecture.com, the Imperial Inn opened in the early 1960s … Continue reading Renovations on Imperial Inn motel in Albuquerque likely will be finished by fall
New Mexico Route 66 Association helps launch effort to repair hail-damaged neon in Tucumcari
The New Mexico Route 66 Association and Tucumcari MainStreet are joining forces to repair a dozen historic Route 66 neon signs in Tucumcari, New Mexico, that were damaged by a severe hailstorm in late May. In a news release, the association stated its damage assessment identified more than 60 pieces of broken neon tubing among … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association helps launch effort to repair hail-damaged neon in Tucumcari
Switch thrown at Legends Neon Park at Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield
Re-creations or restorations of neon signs for long-defunct Route 66 businesses glowed anew on Wednesday night during a lighting ceremony at the Legends Neon Park at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The neon park at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Route 66 Experience contains the signs of the A. Lincoln Motel, the Coliseum Ballroom, Chain … Continue reading Switch thrown at Legends Neon Park at Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield
Cannonball Jail in Carlinville soon will reopen for tours
The historic and uniquely designed Cannonball Jail in Carlinville, Illinois, will host a "Jail House Rock" event on July 29 before it opens regularly for tours in August. The former Macoupin County Jail will host the "Jail House Rock" event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 29, including photo opportunities to show yourself … Continue reading Cannonball Jail in Carlinville soon will reopen for tours