Work has begun in restoring the Crestwood Bowl neon sign along Route 66 in Crestwood, Mo., a southwest suburb of St. Louis. The official relighting ceremony for the sign will be Saturday, Oct. 20, at dusk. According to climate data, sunset on that date will be 6:14 p.m., although darkness could come earlier if it's … Continue reading Relighting ceremony set for Crestwood Bowl sign
Category: Signs
Coney Island restaurant moves into Springfield’s Sonrise Donuts building
The historic Coney Island restaurant in Springfield, Ill., has reopened in the equally historic Sonrise Donuts building, according to the Springfield State Journal-Register. Both restaurants boasted long tenures on Route 66. Emilio and Rosa Lomeli reopened The New Coney Island this month at Sonrise Donut at 1101 S. Ninth St. (aka Route 66). It is … Continue reading Coney Island restaurant moves into Springfield’s Sonrise Donuts building
A glimpse of the Boots Motel’s past
One of the pleasures of a Route 66 restoration or preservation project is you occasionally get a look at the long-ago past. We had that unique opportunity over the Labor Day weekend when Emily (aka Redforkhippie), Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce, and I embarked on a repainting of the historic Boots … Continue reading A glimpse of the Boots Motel’s past
Resident wants big Route 66 design on Joplin intersection
A Joplin, Mo., resident wants to embed a large Route 66 design onto the roadway of the intersection of St. Louis Avenue and Broadway in Joplin, according to the Joplin Globe. Retired firefighter Steve Lea is leading the effort, and says residents have offered to contribute money for it. An assistant Public Works director and … Continue reading Resident wants big Route 66 design on Joplin intersection
New sign is up at Lile Art Gallery
Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Bob "Crocodile" Lile had the sign on his Lile Art Gallery painted on his building in recent days, culminating the move of his business from Sunset Art Galleries to Amarillo's Historic San Jacinto District, aka Route 66. The area also is known as the Sixth Street Historic District. Doug Quarles, an artist … Continue reading New sign is up at Lile Art Gallery
Springfield may have erroneously marked Route 66
A researcher says a 1926-30 alignment of Route 66 in Springfield, Ill., is erroneously marked in part of the city, according to a recent article in the Illinois Times. Carl Johnson, a land surveyor who's written several articles in the newsletter for the Illinois Route 66 Association, told the newspaper about the alleged error. Here's … Continue reading Springfield may have erroneously marked Route 66
Midpoint Cafe making improvements to midpoint sign
Dennis Purschwitz, new owner the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, said on a Facebook post he's making improvements to the "midpoint of Route 66" sign across the road from his restaurant. The project involves installing paver stones to make a more park-like setting, wheelchair / ADA access to the sign, and a platform immediately behind … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe making improvements to midpoint sign
Remembering Ernie
The Ernie and Fran Edwards Route 66 International Appreciation Day was Sunday at the old Pig Hip restaurant site in Broadwell, Ill. Here's a photo taken by Logan County Tourism from the event. That's Fran Edwards, 90-year-old widow of the recently deceased Ernie Edwards, cutting the ribbon with a big pair of scissors at the dedication … Continue reading Remembering Ernie
Several Scenic Byways grants go to Route 66
About 125 grants from the National Scenic Byways Program were announced Thursday, with several of them going to Route 66 projects. The following is a Route 66-related list of the grant award, where it's going, and a description from the Federal Highway Administration of its purpose: --- $267,038, Kingman, Ariz., Historic Route 66 Kingman Pedestrian Crossing … Continue reading Several Scenic Byways grants go to Route 66
Joliet restaurant takes on Route 66 name
The Joliet Restaurant in downtown Joliet, Ill., has renamed itself to the Joliet Route 66 Diner to take advantage of the town's Mother Road heritage, according to The Herald-News in Joliet. The newspaper reported: A few months ago, Tom Mahalik, marketing vice president for the City Center Partnership, came up with an idea to rebrand … Continue reading Joliet restaurant takes on Route 66 name