One year after groundbreaking, construction of the $12 million Route 66 Visitor Center on Albuquerque's west side remains largely on schedule and likely will open by June or July. KRQE-TV checked into the progress of the project on Nine Mile Hill: Despite concerns over potential delays in construction caused by the pandemic, crews are right … Continue reading Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque projected to open by summer
Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner
The 70-year-old Florence's Restaurant just east of the state capitol in Oklahoma City last week was named the first James Beard Award winner in Oklahoma history. According to The Oklahoman newspaper, Florence's was among six winners of the Beard foundation’s 2022 America’s Classics Award, given to locally-owned restaurants with “timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for … Continue reading Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner
Wildfires near Route 66 corridor in west Amarillo destroy four homes, burn nearly 150 acres
A wind-whipped grass fire Monday afternoon on the west side of Amarillo, Texas, burned nearly 150 acres and destroyed four homes and 11 outbuildings. The fire occurred mostly in the Indian Hills neighborhood in west Amarillo, where an old alignment of Route 66 runs. Update: the #CadillacFire in Potter County is 128.8 acres and 60% … Continue reading Wildfires near Route 66 corridor in west Amarillo destroy four homes, burn nearly 150 acres
Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
The Bristow (Oklahoma) Historical Society has compiled a wish list of landmarks along or near Route 66 it wants to beautify and restore, including the Chrysler Plymouth tower. According to the Sapulpa Times, the society has placed these landmarks on the renovation list before Route 66's centennial in 2026: The 100-foot-tall Chrysler Plymouth tower just … Continue reading Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
Two grant opportunities are available through National Trust for Historic Preservation
Kaisa Barthuli, program director for the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, recently sent out an email to alert people about two grant opportunities through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Don't procrastinate, though. Applications for both grants are due March 1. One is the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors. It assists in the … Continue reading Two grant opportunities are available through National Trust for Historic Preservation
Fire destroys Dan’s Bar-B-Que Pit in Davenport
A blaze on Friday morning destroyed Dan's Bar-B-Que Pit restaurant, a Route 66 stalwart in Davenport, Oklahoma, for almost 50 years. KFOR-TV in nearby Oklahoma City reported the fire started about 10 a.m.: When firefighters arrived, they said the flames had already spread to the building’s ceiling and were moving quickly.“It just moved so fast,” … Continue reading Fire destroys Dan’s Bar-B-Que Pit in Davenport
Tickets go on sale for Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa and Oklahoma City in June
The organizers of the Route 66 Road Fest scheduled on consecutive weekends in June in Oklahoma City and Tulsa announced this week they have placed tickets on sale. The festival was scheduled for mid-2021 but postponed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact tickets now are available shows the growing confidence the pandemic … Continue reading Tickets go on sale for Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa and Oklahoma City in June
New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
If you have about 45 minutes to kill, I encourage you to watch this new video about the known history of the massive Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville, Illinois. https://youtu.be/iciOvaIm51M The Ancient Americas channel on YouTube produced the video, which was uploaded just a few weeks ago. It's as good of an encapsulation … Continue reading New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, is getting a $6 million makeover where the establishment's owner is carefully considering how well the face-lift work matches the hotel's historic character. Details of the work being done on the historic Route 66 hotel are in the current print issue of New Mexico Magazine. (The story should … Continue reading El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
Longtime Illinois Route 66 advocate Marty Blitstein dies
Marty Blitstein, a longtime officer with the Route 66 Association of Illinois, died in a hospice Sunday after a short illness. He was 80. The association's website announced his death this week. It described his effects on the organization: Among the highlights were revitalizing its membership and Treasury. He collaborated with Betty Estes to facilitate the moving of … Continue reading Longtime Illinois Route 66 advocate Marty Blitstein dies