The Missouri Department of Transportation set a "drop-dead" date of April 20 for the Route 66 Gasconade River Bridge Guardians to find a new owner for the historic span near Hazelgreen, Missouri, or else the state will dismantle it. Facing the looming deadline, preservationists eventually shifted the questions to MoDOT about how to acquire pieces … Continue reading State sets April 20 deadline to avoid razing of Gasconade River Bridge
Category: Preservation
Time is running out to save Gasconade River Bridge
Time to save the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri, from demolition is running out, as a contract to raze the historic Route 66 span may be awarded by mid-2020. Gary Sosniecki of the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society wrote that no progress was made this week during one of several "last-ditch" efforts to … Continue reading Time is running out to save Gasconade River Bridge
A long-closed gas station in Valentine, Arizona, reopens as a gift shop
A long-closed gas station called Valentine Station in Valentine, Arizona, reopened a few months ago as a gift shop. Marian Pavel, traveling Route 66 as part of field research to update his company's Route 66 Navigation app, found out last month about it reopening. Route 66 Navigation passed along the news on Facebook: Contacted through … Continue reading A long-closed gas station in Valentine, Arizona, reopens as a gift shop
Oklahoma City’s first-ever historic preservation plan is posted online
In October, The Oklahoman reported about a forthcoming and first-ever historic preservation plan for Oklahoma City. The newspaper reported: The 141-page draft was reviewed last week in a workshop attended by members of the city council, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission.It is entering a period of public comment, heading toward hearings by … Continue reading Oklahoma City’s first-ever historic preservation plan is posted online
County to proceed with preservation plan for Sidewalk Highway, bike trail
Ottawa County, Oklahoma, is proceeding with a preservation plan for the nearly century-old stretch of Route 66, also known as the Ribbon Road or Sidewalk Highway, that may include a cycling or pedestrian trail next to it. KSN/KODE-TV reported: It will feature a walking, biking, and hiking trail alongside the historic Mother Road.Ottawa County Commissioner, … Continue reading County to proceed with preservation plan for Sidewalk Highway, bike trail
Fourth new or restored neon sign lighted via Route 66 grant in Tulsa
A fourth neon sign that's new or restored along Route 66 in Tulsa came to life last week, this time at U.S. Studio 66. U.S. Studio 66 is at 5202 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66), just west of the historic Desert Hills Motel. Other signs that are new or have been restored are Billy … Continue reading Fourth new or restored neon sign lighted via Route 66 grant in Tulsa
Artist does her own form of preserving Route 66 neon signs by painting them
In a time when Route 66 advocates are discussing the disappearance of historic neon signs, an Albuquerque artist has taken note of that issue and is doing her own small bit of preservation -- painting images of those signs in case they vanish. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports about self-proclaimed "painter of history" Cheryl Godin: “My … Continue reading Artist does her own form of preserving Route 66 neon signs by painting them
Roy’s sign in Amboy glows again for the first time in 30 years
The iconic Roy's Motel & Cafe neon sign in Amboy, California, glowed for the first time in at least 30 years during a relighting ceremony Saturday night. The event coincided with the Great Amboy Fly-In, Part 2, where private planes use Amboy's nearby airstrip. Here a video of the countdown to the relighting at twilight … Continue reading Roy’s sign in Amboy glows again for the first time in 30 years
Restoration of Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park near Foyil should be done by fall 2020
A years-long restoration of Ed Galloway's historic Totem Pole Park near Foyil, Oklahoma, should be completed by fall 2020 and last a quarter-century or more. Park Director David Anderson and artist Erin Turner described the project that began in 2015 during a Claremore Collective panel discussion last week, reported the Claremore Daily Progress newspaper. Route … Continue reading Restoration of Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park near Foyil should be done by fall 2020
Oklahoma Route 66 Association secures Bob Waldmire U-Haul, displays it at Chelsea tunnel
Thanks to the help of donations, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association secured the U-Haul truck painted by the late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire and is displaying it near the pedestrian underpass in Chelsea, Oklahoma. Association President Rhys Martin wrote in a blog post that Waldmire initially painted a detailed Route 66 map on one … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association secures Bob Waldmire U-Haul, displays it at Chelsea tunnel