Advocates for Phelps County, Missouri, are renewing their quest to establish a local Route 66 museum in St. James at an old car dealership within the next year. The museum's advocates, including its president James Standfast, want to develop the old Hutcheson Ford complex, and fundraising towards the purchase of the site continues, reported the … Continue reading Phelps County, Missouri, renews push to establish a permanent Route 66 museum
State Council to consider Boots Court’s nomination to National Register of Historic Places
The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation will meet in Jefferson City on July 15 to consider whether to nominate the Route 66 landmark Boots Court motel of Carthage, Missouri, to the National Register of Historic Places. Also to be considered will be the East Town neighborhood of Joplin, Missouri, which is bounded by an … Continue reading State Council to consider Boots Court’s nomination to National Register of Historic Places
Take a deep dive into the massive Route 66 Photo Archive and its 50,000+ images
This has been over 20 years in the making, but the Route 66 Photo Archive recently passed 50,000 images in its database. Dries Bessels started the archive in June 2000. In late June this year, he announced the archive had passed more than 50,000 images in the database. The photographs are sorted by location from … Continue reading Take a deep dive into the massive Route 66 Photo Archive and its 50,000+ images
Angel Delgadillo announces retirement from barbering after 75 years in the trade
Angel Delgadillo, known as the Guardian Angel of Route 66, announced on Thursday he was retiring from the barber trade after 75 years in it, virtually all in Seligman, Arizona. The Angel and Vilma Delgadillo's Original Route 66 Gift Shop account on Facebook announced it: Angel always says the first day of his barbering career … Continue reading Angel Delgadillo announces retirement from barbering after 75 years in the trade
Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita lands $40,000 grant from National Trust program
The Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita, Oklahoma, was one of 25 restaurants to receive $40,000 from the Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Launched in 2021, last year 25 small historic restaurants across the country each received a $40,000 grant to improve, upgrade, and preserve their exterior physical spaces and online … Continue reading Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita lands $40,000 grant from National Trust program
A dive into the history of the defunct Rock City Cafe in Eureka
A YouTube channel called Gateway Explorer recently dove into the history of the Rock City Cafe that once stood along Route 66 in Eureka, Missouri. https://youtu.be/Lp_7uO02pIU The channel describes the video: Located at (38.5054260, -90.6151620), the Rock City Cafe was built in 1933 by Ed LaMar on a hill at the edge of Times Beach … Continue reading A dive into the history of the defunct Rock City Cafe in Eureka
Suspicious fire destroys much of El Rancho Motel in Barstow
A fire deemed as suspicious destroyed three-quarters of the historic El Rancho Motel on Tuesday night along Route 66 in Barstow, California. The three-alarm blaze forced the closing of about a quarter-mile of Main Street in the city, but no injuries were reported. The Victorville Daily Press in nearby Victorville had some details after the … Continue reading Suspicious fire destroys much of El Rancho Motel in Barstow
Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi to perform next month at Old Joliet Prison
Dan Aykroyd and James Belushi will perform at the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois, on Aug. 19 as part of an elaborate Blues Brothers Con at the historic site. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Joliet Area Historical Museum, reported The Herald-News. “He [Dan Aykroyd] made a significant donation of his time to … Continue reading Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi to perform next month at Old Joliet Prison
“The Great Muslim American Road Trip” begins airing today on PBS-TV
The three-part series "The Great Muslim American Road Trip," which shows a couple exploring their America's Muslim roots during a road trip on Route 66, begins today on PBS-TV. A previously reported description of the series: The series follows rapper Mona Haydar and her husband Sebastian Robins as they explore the U.S. “Mother Road” and … Continue reading “The Great Muslim American Road Trip” begins airing today on PBS-TV
Evan Stern’s “Vanishing Postcards” podcast features Route 66
If you have about 40 minutes to spare, I recommend you listen to this "Vanishing Postcards" podcast that features Route 66. Evan Stern's production features a number of prominent Route 66 figures. Here's a description of the podcast: The name Route 66 has a certain kind of magic. For some, it calls to mind images … Continue reading Evan Stern’s “Vanishing Postcards” podcast features Route 66