Rare film footage of old Galena

The Galena Mining and Historical Museum late Wednesday posted on Facebook this video of very old film footage of Galena, Kansas, much of it believed to be in the 1920s. It shows a variety of scenes around town, including its lead and zinc-mining industries. The museum posted this message with the footage: This video was … Continue reading Rare film footage of old Galena

Fees could rise sharply at popular national parks, including Grand Canyon

The U.S. Park Service is considering steep increases to 17 of its most popular national parks, including Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, a side trip for many Route 66 travelers. The Associated Press reported Tuesday: Visitors to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion and other national parks would be charged $70 per vehicle, up … Continue reading Fees could rise sharply at popular national parks, including Grand Canyon

Settlement reached between Davis Arms Museum, state

The J.M. Davis Foundation, which runs the J.M. Davis Arms Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, and the state of Oklahoma recently reached an agreement over a nearly 10-year-old lawsuit alleging breach of contract by the state. The Claremore Daily Progress reported: Under the terms of the agreement approved Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 by Rogers County District … Continue reading Settlement reached between Davis Arms Museum, state

UPDATED: Eat-Rite Diner closes; it may open

The historic Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis closed Tuesday for at least two weeks because of mechanical issues, and its aging owner said the shutdown may be even longer than that. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which landed the scoop, talked to the restaurant's owner, L.B. Powers, who said the shutdown is because of an exhaust-fan … Continue reading UPDATED: Eat-Rite Diner closes; it may open

Museum unveils restored Tucumcari Motel sign

The New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari on Monday officially unveiled the restored Tucumcari Motel neon sign. Here's a brief Facebook video of the unveiling: Eight Ball Engineering in Clovis, New Mexico, restored the sign’s paint. Wellborn Sign Company in Amarillo, Texas, restored the neon. To show you how far the sign has come, … Continue reading Museum unveils restored Tucumcari Motel sign

Michael and Suzanne Wallis honored by Tulsa Global Alliance

The Tulsa Global Alliance last week honored residents Michael and Suzanne Wallis for their decades of work promoting and contributing to the preservation of Route 66. The alliance's Global Vision Awards event's theme was "Route 66: Where the World Meets America." The Wallises were lauded for their 'outstanding contribution to Citizen Diplomacy." The author of 18 … Continue reading Michael and Suzanne Wallis honored by Tulsa Global Alliance

Route 66: The Road Ahead issues third-quarter report

Last week, the Route 66: The Road Ahead Partnership issued its third-quarter report to keep the Route 66 community up-to-date on its activities and future endeavors. Bill Thomas, chairman of the group, summarized the report in an overview. One excerpt, lightly edited: The board of directors held its third meeting of the year in September, … Continue reading Route 66: The Road Ahead issues third-quarter report

Joliet’s baseball stadium to be renamed Joliet Route 66 Stadium

The independent baseball stadium in Joliet, Illinois, eventually will be renamed Joliet Route 66 Stadium, it was announced Friday during the Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference in Joliet. The name change may not occur for a year because of cost considerations, reported The Herald-News. Regardless, city officials trumpeted the news. "This is international branding," … Continue reading Joliet’s baseball stadium to be renamed Joliet Route 66 Stadium

Group donates neon signs to Route 66 Neon Park

The Friends of the Mother Road nonprofit group this week donated neon signs from the Stanley Cour-Tel and Lin-Air Motel on Route 66 in St. Louis to the future Route 66 Neon Park in St. Robert, Missouri. According to a news release from Beth Wiles of Pulaski County Route 66 Preservation: Both properties were razed … Continue reading Group donates neon signs to Route 66 Neon Park

El Vado Motel to reopen in December; De Anza in 2019

The long-simmering restoration of Albuquerque's historic El Vado Motel is slated to reach completion by December, when it reopens as a boutique motel with local-beer taproom, retail store, mixed-income housing and food pods. The city had hoped to have it open by the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta earlier this month. Meanwhile, restoration work on the … Continue reading El Vado Motel to reopen in December; De Anza in 2019