People and travelers along Route 66 for years have dealt with the nuisance and inconvenience of the occasional theft of directional signs. But a recent rash of such thefts in southeast Kansas -- nine in all -- have gotten the attention of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association and the Kansas Department of Transportation. KOAM-TV … Continue reading Rash of Route 66 sign thefts occur in Kansas
Amtrak may end service in northern New Mexico
Amtrak may end service of its fabled Southwest Chief train from Dodge City, Kansas, to Albuquerque -- affecting a slew of towns in northern New Mexico. Instead, the 450-mile gap in the route would be covered by buses. One of several Route communities that would be affected by the removal of passenger-train service is Las … Continue reading Amtrak may end service in northern New Mexico
Should Airbnb sites on Route 66 undergo more regulation?
While Airbnb has been controversial in larger cities for years, the use of people's homes for overnight lodging is being cussed and discussed in smaller cities -- including those on Route 66. WGLT, a public radio station at Illinois State University, recently dived into the issue and the case of Kevin Lewis' 103-year-old house in … Continue reading Should Airbnb sites on Route 66 undergo more regulation?
Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne
The Claremore Museum of History in Claremore, Oklahoma, plans to place a life-size statue of local athlete Andy Payne at Lynn Riggs Park, also known as Gazebo Park, a few blocks east of Route 66. The Claremore Daily Progress reported a new exhibit, "The Andy Payne Family Collection," donated by Payne’s daughter, will be shown in the … Continue reading Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne
Kearney Street project in Springfield being watched closely
A plan to declare the Kearney Street corridor in Springfield, Missouri, as a blighted area and redevelop it using tax breaks and low-interest loans is attracting a lot of attention from retailers, bankers and bankers. Kearney Street remains a prominent Route 66 alignment once known as a car-cruising Mecca during the 1970s and ’80s -- … Continue reading Kearney Street project in Springfield being watched closely
Los Lunas lands grant to design Route 66 museum
The village of Los Lunas, New Mexico, received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help design and plan a Route 66 museum and visitors center. The Valencia County News-Bulletin reports the village will work with the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning on the project. The grant … Continue reading Los Lunas lands grant to design Route 66 museum
Renovated Gateway Arch museum in St. Louis reopens to public
The Gateway Arch Museum and Visitor Center in St. Louis reopened to the public Tuesday after a $380 million renovation of the grounds using public and private funding. The 630-foot-tall, stainless steel monument, completed in 1965, remains essentially unchanged. But the grounds surrounding it underwent a makeover in a four-year period -- namely to make the … Continue reading Renovated Gateway Arch museum in St. Louis reopens to public
U.S. House committee advances Route 66 centennial bill
A bill to name Route 66 a National Historic Trail has received a lot of attention in Congress and from the media. But a second Route 66 bill also is quietly advancing through the halls of Washington. Last week, the U.S. House's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced H.R. 66, known as the Route 66 Centennial … Continue reading U.S. House committee advances Route 66 centennial bill
Steppenwolf, Grand Funk Railroad will headline Decades of Wheels opening
The upcoming Decades of Wheels museum in Baxter Springs, Kansas, will mark its opening in mid-October with a series of concerts, including 1960s and '70s rock acts Steppenwolf and Grand Funk Railroad. The Oct. 12-14 weekend also will feature country-rock acts Granger Smith and Reckless Kelly. a Texas rock act, Band of Heathens, and a … Continue reading Steppenwolf, Grand Funk Railroad will headline Decades of Wheels opening
National Trust group to begins Route 66 tour today
A team from the National Trust of Historic Preservation -- including five young "Route 66 Roadies" -- will start a month-long tour of Route 66 to publicize the historic highway and lobby Congress to name it a National Historic Trail. The Preserve Route 66 journey began today in Chicago and concludes Aug. 3 in California. … Continue reading National Trust group to begins Route 66 tour today