The National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for its annual 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list, and the chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is encouraging stakeholders to nominate jeopardized properties on Route 66. Bill Thomas, chairman of the partnership, stated in an email Tuesday that any Route 66 properties on … Continue reading Route 66 nominations encouraged for National Trust’s endangered places list
Joplin Union Depot makes Missouri Preservation’s Places in Peril list
The 110-year-old Joplin Union Depot in Joplin, Missouri, recently made Missouri Preservation's annual Places in Peril list of endangered historic properties. These places are nominated by concerned individuals and decided upon by a committee of preservation advocates, according to a news release from the organization that has operated since 1976. Joplin Union Depot opened to … Continue reading Joplin Union Depot makes Missouri Preservation’s Places in Peril list
Ribbon-cutting held for Route 66 Village Train Depot in Tulsa
City officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to mark the completion of the Route 66 Village Train Depot museum and events center in southwest Tulsa. According to the Tulsa World, the $3 million project was funded by voter-approved Vision Tulsa sales tax. “These things don’t happen by accident,” said Mayor G.T. Bynum, speaking to the … Continue reading Ribbon-cutting held for Route 66 Village Train Depot in Tulsa
Image from Route 66 enters into the NFT realm
It probably was inevitable, but an image from Route 66 has entered the realm of non-fungible tokens, also known as NFTs. I received this news release last week from a fellow from Scotland who asked not to be identified but goes by the tagline Century of Progress. The release from him has been shortened a … Continue reading Image from Route 66 enters into the NFT realm
Volunteers help put a new roof on Shamrock Court in Sullivan
Volunteers and plenty of cash earlier this week helped put on a new and much-needed roof on the long-closed Shamrock Court motel along Route 66 in Sullivan, Missouri. Rich Dinkela, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri and owner of the property, posted some photos Tuesday after the work was completed: Dinkela wrote he … Continue reading Volunteers help put a new roof on Shamrock Court in Sullivan
Tom Willis, owner of 66 Diner in Albuquerque, dies at 71
Tom Willis, owner of the landmark 66 Diner in Albuquerque and charter member of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, died Wednesday. He was 71. Sue Montgomery, vice president of the association, stated by email that "from my understanding" Willis died of COVID-19 and "had some underlying conditions that didn't help." Willis would be the … Continue reading Tom Willis, owner of 66 Diner in Albuquerque, dies at 71
Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City marks 75 years by relighting its tower with LED
The Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City on Tuesday marked its 75th anniversary by relighting its iconic, art deco marquee with new LED tubing. The Billboard Museum posted a video of a countdown of the relighting ceremony: The museum also recently posted several vintage images of the theater in a preview of the ceremony: G&S … Continue reading Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City marks 75 years by relighting its tower with LED
Volunteers give a fresh look to Allen’s Fillin’ Station in Commerce
After two weather-related delays, volunteers with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association on Saturday put a new coat of paint on the Allen's Fillin' Station in Commerce, Oklahoma. Here are before-and-after images and other photos of the historic gas station on an old alignment of Route 66 through town. The owner, Bobby Allen, posted more photos … Continue reading Volunteers give a fresh look to Allen’s Fillin’ Station in Commerce
Rooftop letters taken down from Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge
The large rooftop letters at the closed and increasingly dilapidated Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge, Missouri, were removed Monday and eventually will be displayed at the forthcoming museum and visitor center at the Red Cedar Inn in nearby Pacific, Missouri. Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Joe Sonderman posted photos on Facebook of workers removing the large … Continue reading Rooftop letters taken down from Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge
Memorial Hall in Joplin added to National Register of Historic Places
The nearly century-old Memorial Hall in Joplin, Missouri, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to a recent email from the National Park Service that administers the program. The listing was effective Oct. 7. Memorial Hall sits one block south of Seventh Street, aka Route 66, in the city. Memorial Hall … Continue reading Memorial Hall in Joplin added to National Register of Historic Places