The city of Joliet, Illinois, proposed an allocation of $50,000 to the Joliet Area Historical Museum to help cover expenses in reopening the historic Joliet prison. If funding goes through as expected, Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, said it could start tours inside the old Joliet Correctional Center later this month. The Herald-News reported: The … Continue reading Joliet may use $50,000 for old prison, reopen this month
Researcher of Negro Motorist Green Book lands publishing deal
Candacy Taylor, who for years has researched properties listed in a long-defunct annual publication called the Negro Motorist Green Book, announced over the weekend three books about it will be published by Abrams Books. The central book in the deal is titled "Overground Railroad: The Green Book and Roots of Mobility in Black America." It … Continue reading Researcher of Negro Motorist Green Book lands publishing deal
Texas Route 66 license plates may not happen after all
A proposed Texas Route 66 license plate may not become reality after the company making them announced pre-orders are "well short" of the 200 needed for the project. According to a news release last week from MyPlates.com: The proposed design by My Plates.com was submitted to the TxDMV board last February and was approved pending … Continue reading Texas Route 66 license plates may not happen after all
Rash of Route 66 sign thefts occur in Kansas
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