A new Route 66 marker was recently unveiled on Madison Street in Brooklyn, Illinois, after the historic Black community had been bypassed and neglected on Route 66 maps for many years. 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 … Continue reading First Black incorporated town in U.S. officially restored to Route 66 map
Category: Signs
Cruise Route 66 from El Reno to Tulsa during the mid-1960s
Bruce Clark recently posted this six-minute home video (with no sound) from the mid-1960s of a Route 66 trip from El Reno, Oklahoma, to Tulsa. In it, you'll see a lot of cool neon signs and plenty of Space Age architecture. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, in the comment thread, narrowed … Continue reading Cruise Route 66 from El Reno to Tulsa during the mid-1960s
Neon sign for defunct Hi-Line Motel in Ash Fork is undergoing restoration
Earlier this month, the neon sign for the defunct Hi-Line Motel in Ash Fork, Arizona, was taken down so it can be restored and reinstalled. The Ash Fork Route 66 Historical Museum posted photos and video on Facebook of the sign being taken down by the restoration team. No timeline was given for the sign … Continue reading Neon sign for defunct Hi-Line Motel in Ash Fork is undergoing restoration
Texas Old Route 66 Association announces first batch of small business outdoor beautification matching grants
The Texas Old Route 66 Association recently announced its inaugural group of recipients of its Small Business Outdoor Beautification Matching Micro-Grant Program. Five businesses along Texas Route 66 were given $500 gatching grants for exterior improvements, beautification projects, signage, restoration efforts and visitor experience enhancements. The awardees were: Cactus Inn Motel, McLean, for an outdoor … Continue reading Texas Old Route 66 Association announces first batch of small business outdoor beautification matching grants
Cannabis dispensary re-creates “First / Last Stop in Texas” sign in Glenrio
A cannabis dispensary in Glenrio, New Mexico, recently recreated the "First/Last Stop in Texas" sign that had been deteriorating for years. The Instagram account for the Glenrio Smoke Stop recently posted images of the new sign near the New Mexico-Texas border. Glenrio Smoke Stop also stated it would hold a relighting event for the sign … Continue reading Cannabis dispensary re-creates “First / Last Stop in Texas” sign in Glenrio
Neon sign for Cattleman’s Club in Amarillo is restored
The City of Amarillo announced a few days ago that the Cattleman's Club neon sign was restored and is glowing again, just before the city's Route 66 festival began. The city stated this in a Facebook post: Recognized for its historical significance in a 2016 Texas Historical Survey, the sign stands as a reminder of … Continue reading Neon sign for Cattleman’s Club in Amarillo is restored
Relighting ceremony held for Munger Moss Motel’s neon sign
The City of Lebanon, Missouri, held a relighting ceremony on June 1 for its restored neon sign once owned by the Munger Moss Motel. June 1 was the anniversary that longtime owners Bob and Ramona Lehman, both now deceased, purchased the Route 66 property in 1971. About 100 people attended the ceremony 55 years later. … Continue reading Relighting ceremony held for Munger Moss Motel’s neon sign
Fire heavily damages historic Sunset Motel in Villa Ridge
A fire on Thursday night heavily damaged the historic but long-closed Sunset Motel along old Route 66 in Villa Ridge, Missouri. Roamin' Rich Dinkela, past president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri and owner of two historic Route 66 motels in the Show Me State, was among the first with a video camera on … Continue reading Fire heavily damages historic Sunset Motel in Villa Ridge
Construction of Centennial Plaza in Pontiac moves into a swifter phase
The mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, reported a few days ago that construction of the Route 66-themed Centennial Plaza near the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum is moving into a more rapid stage. Mayor Kelly Eckhoff in a Facebook post stated: The end of the eight week curing time for the steel structure … Continue reading Construction of Centennial Plaza in Pontiac moves into a swifter phase
New “Welcome to Tulsa” neon signs are being installed just before the Route 66 Capital Cruise
Earlier this week, the City of Tulsa erected a large "Welcome to Tulsa" neon sign just before the Tulsa Route 66 Capital Cruise brings in thousands of tourists and classic-car enthusiasts. The sign is at the Route 66 Historical Village in southwest Tulsa. Residents gathered Tuesday night for the lighting ceremony there. Here are images … Continue reading New “Welcome to Tulsa” neon signs are being installed just before the Route 66 Capital Cruise