Residents dedicated a new, 60-foot-long mural at 621 Langston Hughes-Broadway (aka Route 66) in Joplin, Missouri, on Sunday. According to the Joplin Globe, the mural on the side wall of a former grocery store depicts the history of the city's historic East Town neighborhood. About 200 people, many of them East Town residents, attended the ceremony. The mural is … Continue reading New East Town mural dedicated in Joplin
A spaceship on Route 66 in Illinois
WRSP-TV found this oddity on Route 66 in Divernon, Illinois -- a former cop, Dave Bentley, who made his own spaceship and parked it in his front yard for the enjoyment of passers-by and tourists. Check out the video: The "Earth Patrol" spaceship is part of a diorama featuring Route 66. There's also a hole … Continue reading A spaceship on Route 66 in Illinois
Flying C Ranch manager may revive Milagro gas station
The closed Milagro gas station west of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, may be resurrected by the manager of the nearby Flying C Ranch travel center. Last week's print edition of The Communicator newspaper in Santa Rosa reported Frank Tavenner, manager of the Flying C off Interstate 40 about 10 miles west of the Milagro station, is … Continue reading Flying C Ranch manager may revive Milagro gas station
Couple buys historic bank building in Carterville
A local couple recently bought a historic but deteriorated bank building in downtown Carterville, Missouri, and plan to eventually turn it into a residential and retail center. Brock and Courtney Powell of Carterville purchased the former First National Bank building at 301 Main St. (aka Route 66) about two months ago, reported the Joplin Globe. Brock Powell … Continue reading Couple buys historic bank building in Carterville
Joplin will officially revive Mother Road Marathon
Thanks to action by the Joplin, Missouri, City Council, the Mother Road Marathon officially will be resurrected in the tri-state region Oct. 1, 2017. The council on Monday night gave final approval to a licensing deal that will allow local race organizer Tom Rogers of Twelveone Race Management to revive the 26.2-mile footrace that begins in northeastern Oklahoma, goes … Continue reading Joplin will officially revive Mother Road Marathon
Giant gas pump at Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum nears completion
The 66-foot-tall giant gas pump planned for the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum near Sapulpa, Oklahoma. is close to being finished. The skeleton of the giant gasoline pump is shown above. Below is about it should look like when it's finished. According to a news release from the museum: The frame of the large structure has … Continue reading Giant gas pump at Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum nears completion
Curt Teich Postcard Archive to be donated to Chicago library
TheCurt Teich Postcard Archive, which contains thousands of vintage images from Route 66 from the 1920s to the 1970s, soon will be donated to The Newberry library in Chicago. The Lake County Forest Preserve District, which had owned the archive for decades, said the deal to The Newberry likely will be finalized sometime next week … Continue reading Curt Teich Postcard Archive to be donated to Chicago library
Vin Scully calls it a career
Sunday marked the last major-league game by Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play announcer Vin Scully after 67 seasons behind the booth. The Dodgers made the playoffs, but Scully, 88, insisted his last game before retiring would be a regular-season one. So a 7-1 Dodgers loss Sunday at San Francisco was the finale. Here are a few Scully highlights from … Continue reading Vin Scully calls it a career
Midpoint Cafe put up for sale because of owner’s health problems
The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, a Route 66 landmark for many years, has been placed on the market after its owner endured chronic health issues -- including an episode late this summer that required hospitalization. Owner Dennis Purschwitz posted Saturday on Facebook: As many of you all know, this past season has been hard on me, my … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe put up for sale because of owner’s health problems
Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater
A lot of Route 66 folks know of Tow Tater, the 1951 International boom truck on Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, that served as the direct inspiration to the Tow Mater character in the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film "Cars." But barely 15 miles east in Carterville, Missouri, also on Route 66, sits another rusty tow truck that … Continue reading Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater