Tucked into a half-billion-dollar budget proposal for the city of Albuquerque is $1.45 million to help design a Route 66 visitors center. The Albuquerque Journal reported the Route 66 visitors center would be built on the city's west side. No money was allocated for the actual construction of the site. The visitors center wasn't in the … Continue reading Albuquerque budget includes designing a Route 66 visitors center
National parks likely will offer naming rights
The Painted Desert in Arizona won't be renamed the Sherwin Williams Painted Desert anytime soon. But many other things will be up for grabs when the National Park Service begins to look for naming rights for many parts of its facilities. The Washington Post this week published a story about this development. Hard up for money because of flat funding from … Continue reading National parks likely will offer naming rights
New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved
It appears the Missouri Department of Transportation will repair and reconstruct the closed Gasconade River Bridge that carries old Route 66 near Hazelgreen, Missouri, instead of a new bridge being built in its place. A draft of the state's 2017-2021 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program was released late in the week. It isn't set in stone, but page 16 of … Continue reading New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved
Springfield, Missouri, sees boom in hotel business
Springfield, Missouri, is experiencing a boom in hotel business so far in 2016, and it appears one big reason for it is Route 66. According to the KY3 station in town: The Convention and Visitors bureau says the number of visitors so far...and the number of hotel rooms occupied, has surpassed last year. Tracy Kimberlin … Continue reading Springfield, Missouri, sees boom in hotel business
Artist makes jewelry inspired by Route 66
Kathy Sancken recently created 50 pieces of jewelry inspired by Route 66 that are on display this month at the Community Art Center in Pontiac, Illinois. The show is called "Encircled: Route 66 Travelogue — Necklaces Inspired by the Mother Road" in the center's Joe Bailey Gallery. Pictured above is jewelry inspired by the Gemini … Continue reading Artist makes jewelry inspired by Route 66
Who’s going to the European Route 66 Festival?
I have two questions for my American readers. Are you going to the first-ever European Route 66 Festival near Stuttgart, Germany, on July 15-17? If so, are you going under the auspices of a certain organization? If any of those are a "yes," please elaborate in the comments section. Those questions came to mind when I learned … Continue reading Who’s going to the European Route 66 Festival?
Chelsea pedestrian tunnel under Route 66 vandalized
The Route 66 Pedestrian Underpass Mural in Chelsea, Oklahoma, that opened to the public less than two weeks ago already has been vandalized. But at least the mural itself was spared from the defacing. Kenneth Hollingshead from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and 9-year-old Parker Stanbro of Chelsea painted the mural's collage of Chelsea landmarks, including the 1926 Pryor Creek Bridge that once … Continue reading Chelsea pedestrian tunnel under Route 66 vandalized
Volunteers needed for photo shoot at Meramec River bridge
Route 66 fans and preservationists are asked to show up at the Route 66 State Park office near Eureka, Missouri, this weekend for a photo shoot at the Meramac River Route 66 Bridge for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's ongoing "This Place Matters" campaign. The session will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14. … Continue reading Volunteers needed for photo shoot at Meramec River bridge
Berghoff Restaurant sold
The Berghoff Restaurant, a mainstay in Chicago for more than 100 years, recently was sold, but the ownership will stay in the same family. The Chicago Tribune reports: The sale is being driven by the retirement of Carlyn Berghoff, 55, CEO of the company that operates the restaurant as well as Berghoff Catering. Her brother Peter … Continue reading Berghoff Restaurant sold
Close, but not quite there for Route 66: The Road Ahead logo
A few months ago, the Route 66: The Road Ahead Initiative asked people to send ideas for a new name and logo for the group. The initiative wanted "an easy to remember name and a quickly recognizable logo that reflected the mission of the Road Ahead Initiative and which could assist in efforts to market, promote, … Continue reading Close, but not quite there for Route 66: The Road Ahead logo