The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office will conduct a survey of historic assets along Route 66, but the Tulsa Route 66 Commission wants to conduct its own survey that includes the city's older alignment near downtown. According to Public Radio Tulsa: The state is taking an inventory of structures like movie theaters, gas stations and … Continue reading Tulsa wants its own Route 66 asset survey to account for city’s older alignment
Category: Preservation
Statue of Liberty replicas contain their own historical cachet
A story in the Tulsa World over the weekend sent me down a rabbit hole to find more about small-but-nicely-crafted replicas of the Statue of Liberty that were installed in 200 towns across America seven decades ago. The Tulsa newspaper noted the 8 1/2-foot-tall Statue of Liberty at 17th Street and South Harvard Avenue in … Continue reading Statue of Liberty replicas contain their own historical cachet
Discussions over the fate of Gasconade River Bridge are “at an impasse”
Talks between the Route 66 Association of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Transportation over the future of the historic Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen “and are currently at an impasse,” according to a state official's letter to the director of the State Historic Preservation Office. Gary Sosniecki obtained a copy of MoDOT's letter Monday … Continue reading Discussions over the fate of Gasconade River Bridge are “at an impasse”
Program features Route 66 artist Jerry McClanahan, Round Barn volunteer Mr. Sam
The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, which contains a network of PBS stations across the state, recently aired a 28-minute "Gallery America" segment about Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan and effervescent Arcadia Round Barn volunteer "Mr. Sam" Gillaspy. The program is well-produced. Check it out below: McClanahan's art gallery just off Route 66 in … Continue reading Program features Route 66 artist Jerry McClanahan, Round Barn volunteer Mr. Sam
Boots Court in Carthage officially put up for sale
The historic Boots Court motel along Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri, officially was put up for sale Wednesday with an asking price of $210,000. The Route 66 landmark at 107 S. Garrison Ave. is listed by The Hunter Team of nearby Joplin. UPDATE 6/2/2020: The link expired; the new link is here. The description: Boots … Continue reading Boots Court in Carthage officially put up for sale
Tulsa gives on up on trying to save Brookshire Motel, will try to save sign instead
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission has given up trying to save the closed Brookshire Motel after a fire scorched it for the third time in 15 months. It instead will focus on trying to buy and preserve its neon sign. A man's body was found on the property after the latest fire last week. According … Continue reading Tulsa gives on up on trying to save Brookshire Motel, will try to save sign instead
Gasconade River Bridge earns a reprieve from destruction
The closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri, was facing a spring deadline to find a new owner for the historic span or the Missouri Department of Transportation would advertise for bids to tear it down. That deadline is off the table, according to Joe Sonderman of the Route 66 Association of Missouri. He wrote … Continue reading Gasconade River Bridge earns a reprieve from destruction
Neon restorer, New Mexico Route 66 Association board member dies of COVID-19
Johnny Plath working on the motor of the rotosphere for El Comedor in Moriarty Johnny Plath, 68, a board member with the New Mexico Route 66 Association and a restorer of several historic neon signs along the route, died Friday after contracting the coronavirus. According to a news release Saturday from the association, Plath contracted … Continue reading Neon restorer, New Mexico Route 66 Association board member dies of COVID-19
Bob’s Gasoline Alley collection near Cuba will go up for auction in mid-July
The collection of memorabilia at Bob's Gasoline Alley near Cuba, Missouri, will be auctioned July 15 after the proprietor died earlier this spring. Aumann Auctions of Nokomis, Illinois, is conducting the event at the Bob's Gasoline Alley site at 822 Beamer Lane west of Cuba, sandwiched between old Route 66 and Interstate 44. The date … Continue reading Bob’s Gasoline Alley collection near Cuba will go up for auction in mid-July
Mountain Lodge sign comes down, will be donated to ABQ Route 66 visitor center
The Mountain Lodge motel sign east of Albuquerque was taken down Thursday, but it will resurface later as part of the planned Route 66 Visitor Center on the city's west edge. The New Mexico Route 66 Association posted the news, including photos, about the sign Friday on Facebook: The Associated Press on Friday had more … Continue reading Mountain Lodge sign comes down, will be donated to ABQ Route 66 visitor center