A record 38,000 people attended the annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, this past weekend. KOLR-TV reported 28,000 people attended on Saturday alone, with 5,000 on Friday and another 5,000 on Sunday. Vendors reported bigger crowd sizes, as well. About 23,000 people attended the 2015 festival. A record of more than 400 … Continue reading Record crowds attend Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
Category: Signs
Route 66 inspires restoration on historic church sign
A broken sign for a Springfield, Missouri, church found new life. That's thanks to a pastor who is a Route 66 fan. The South Side Baptist Church sign sits at 465 S. Grant Ave., just a few blocks south of the College Street alignment of Route 66 in Springfield. The church is marking its 75th year. The church's sign once was lighted, with the largest … Continue reading Route 66 inspires restoration on historic church sign
Grants soon will open Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru
The city of Grants, New Mexico, is opening a Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru -- a neon-outlined Route 66 shield motorists can drive their cars or pickups through. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the structure will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, according to a Facebook post by Grants Mainstreet Project Inc. Lemonade, watermelon and live music will be … Continue reading Grants soon will open Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru
Barstow soon will get new Route 66 signs
Barstow, California, soon will have classic car-themed Route 66 signs installed. The city council this week approved a $42,860 contract with Turner Signs and Graphics for the new signs. Councilors also approved a $111,360 budget for the overall sign project. According to the Desert Dispatch newspaper: The monument signs that will be placed along the Route 66 … Continue reading Barstow soon will get new Route 66 signs
Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
A Minnesota-based artist recently launched Explore and Preserve, an apparel and gift website that aims to give part of its profits to endangered Route 66 sites, including the Meramec River Bridge in Missouri. The historic Meramec River Bridge near Eureka, Missouri, requires more than a half-million dollars by the end of the year or the Missouri Department of Transportation tears … Continue reading Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
Carlyle Motel in Oklahoma City soon will disappear
The historic Carlyle Motel along old Route 66 in west Oklahoma City has closed, and it seems it soon will make way for a used-car lot. A reader alerted me by email this week the motel's "driveway is now blocked, by a large truck that has a sign reading 'Cash for Cars.'" The current situation has existed … Continue reading Carlyle Motel in Oklahoma City soon will disappear
Richfield sign removed temporarily at Cucamonga Service Station
A few Route 66 aficionados became alarmed when they saw in February the Richfield sign atop the restored Cucamonga Service Station in Rancho Cucamonga, California, had vanished. Don't worry, folks. The sign's absence turns out to be temporary. The station's owners eventually will reinstall and lower by two feet the Richfield sign to satisfy the owner of … Continue reading Richfield sign removed temporarily at Cucamonga Service Station
Building with vintage sign collection is for sale
A commercial building along Route 66 in Commerce, Oklahoma -- along with its treasure trove of vintage signs -- is for sale on Craigslist for $85,000. View the listing for the building at 711 Commerce Ave. (map) here. The 1959 building takes up a city block and features more than 10,000 square feet of space. According to the … Continue reading Building with vintage sign collection is for sale
Unpopular marquee returning to Rialto Square Theatre
An additional marquee for the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, that was nixed because of its unpopularity is returning -- this time, to the back of the historic building. The theater's principals still are raising funds for the classic marquee. But they think the red-headed stepchild of the other marquee still can prove useful. The Herald-News reported: … Continue reading Unpopular marquee returning to Rialto Square Theatre
Tulsa mayor creates Route 66 Commission
Tulsa's mayor on Friday announced the creation of a Route 66 Commission to promote tourism and economic development in the city. Mayor Dewey Bartlett announced the commission at the Soul City store, restaurant and nightclub on 11th Street (aka Route 66) in Tulsa. Bartlett chose it as the site of the announcement because it's a symbol of revitalization … Continue reading Tulsa mayor creates Route 66 Commission