Though it's been open for more than a year, Gearhead Curios in downtown Galena, Kansas, held its official ribbon-cutting on Saturday. The ceremony commemorated five years of renovations on the old Texaco site by owner Aaron Perry. Rhys Martin of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association was there when the deed was done: Another set of … Continue reading Gearhead Curios in Galena holds its official ribbon-cutting
Category: Preservation
Threatt Filling Station gets some TLC from preservationists and volunteers
The long-closed Threatt Filling Station near Luther, Oklahoma, is receiving some much-needed work from preservationists and volunteers who want to see the Route 66 landmark standing for decades to come. According to KFOR-TV in nearby Oklahoma City: Now, crews from the Oklahoma Historical Society, National Trust for Historic Preservation and Guthrie Job Corps are working to preserve it. Students gain … Continue reading Threatt Filling Station gets some TLC from preservationists and volunteers
West End Service Station in Edwardsville reopens as a museum and interpretive center
The West End Service Station in Edwardsville, Illinois, reopened Friday as a Route 66-themed museum and interpretive center. The former gas station at 620 West St. (aka Route 66) hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting that day. It received a $460,000 state grant a year ago to rehabilitate the site. It will be open for visitors … Continue reading West End Service Station in Edwardsville reopens as a museum and interpretive center
Benjamin Moore Paints give materials donation to Road Runner’s Retreat project
Benjamin Moore & Co. recently donated a bunch of paint to the owner of the Road Runner's Retreat property so it could be used on its neon sign during the next workday on Oct. 21. Ryan Anderson, who runs the Facebook page for the defunct Route 66 restaurant near Chambless, California, said the donation came … Continue reading Benjamin Moore Paints give materials donation to Road Runner’s Retreat project
Four Route 66 restaurants win $40,000 grants from National Trust fund
Four restaurants with strong Route 66 ties each received $40,000 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express. The 25 restaurants receiving the 2023 round of grants were announced Friday by the National Trust. Here are the four along Route 66: Delgadillo's Snow Cap, Seligman, Arizona Mitla Café, … Continue reading Four Route 66 restaurants win $40,000 grants from National Trust fund
Three entities involved in Route 66 groups or towns win grants from National Trust fund
Three entities, including one dedicated to preserving the endangered Gasconade River Bridge in Missouri, recently received grants from the National Trust Preservation Fund. More about the bridge award from the National Trust's news release: The Route 66 Association of Missouri, Inc. was awarded $5,000 from the Kansas and Missouri Preservation Fund to hire an engineering … Continue reading Three entities involved in Route 66 groups or towns win grants from National Trust fund
Association seeks to complete restoration of McLean Phillips 66 station by October
The Texas Old Route 66 Association on Friday finished the re-roofing of the 1928 Phillips 66 station in McLean, Texas, and hopes to complete the final two stages of restoration by the association's motor tour in October. Gary Daggett, president of the association, said in a telephone interview the partial restoration of the station's pumps … Continue reading Association seeks to complete restoration of McLean Phillips 66 station by October
Unique volunteer and visitation opportunity is being offered at Threatt Filling Station
The historic Threatt Filling Station near Luther, Oklahoma, is offering a unique opportunity to visit the Route 66 landmark before it opens to the public, plus learning preservation methods. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's HOPE Crew are sponsoring the event at the station at 21940 Oklahoma 66 (map … Continue reading Unique volunteer and visitation opportunity is being offered at Threatt Filling Station
Springfield plans to reopen Bill Shea’s Gas Station Museum
The City of Springfield, Illinois, recently accepted a $623,000 state grant to reopen Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum along Route 66. According to the Springfield State Journal-Register, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl wants to make the closed station on Peoria Road (aka Route 66) an "Instagram-able stop," especially for international travelers. Dahl elaborated on … Continue reading Springfield plans to reopen Bill Shea’s Gas Station Museum
Bristow Historical Society increases efforts to restore Chrysler-Plymouth sign tower
The Bristow, Oklahoma, Historical Society is busting a hump to raise funds to restore a 100-foot-tall Chrysler-Plymouth sign tower in time for Route 66's centennial in 2026, and it is enlisting the help of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association to do it. According to a recent story by the association: There are multiple efforts underway … Continue reading Bristow Historical Society increases efforts to restore Chrysler-Plymouth sign tower