The historic but long-closed Murphy Building in downtown East St. Louis, Illinois, will be completely demolished within a month, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. As recently as a year ago, local preservationists were optimistic something could be done with the structure at 234 Collinsville Ave., less than a block off the 1940s-50s alignment of Route … Continue reading Murphy Building in East St. Louis being torn down
The story behind the first Fun Run
Ryan Abella, a reporter for the Kingman Daily Miner in Kingman, Arizona, dug into the newspaper's archives for a story on the very first Arizona Route 66 Fun Run in 1988. The 28th edition of the Fun Run finishes today. Abella found some fascinating tidbits about the inaugural event: --- The Fun Run started not … Continue reading The story behind the first Fun Run
Buffalo Inn closes amid bankruptcy
The historic Buffalo Inn restaurant and lounge along Route 66 in Upland, California, closed unexpectedly this week and may remain shuttered for good, reported columnist David Allen for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. It was reported in 2012 the restaurant at 1814 W. Foothill Blvd. -- which dates to 1929 -- faced an uncertain future … Continue reading Buffalo Inn closes amid bankruptcy
Another museum opens in Pontiac tomorrow
The long-planned Museum of Gilding Arts in downtown Pontiac, Illinois, opens to the public for the first time at 9 a.m. Saturday, according to a news release from Pontiac Tourism. The museum is at 217 N. Mill St. (map here) and will be near four other museums in Pontiac, including the Illinois Route 66 Hall of … Continue reading Another museum opens in Pontiac tomorrow
More signs of Route 66 revitalization in Tulsa
KOTV in Tulsa filed this story about the ongoing revitalization of 11th Street, aka Route 66, in Tulsa. NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | The intriguing part of the neighborhood is Soul City, a design studio housed in a former gas station that soon will open a restaurant, … Continue reading More signs of Route 66 revitalization in Tulsa
Pixar short film uses Route 66 motel as its setting
An upcoming short film by Pixar Animation Studios, "Sanjay's Super Team," uses a Route 66 motel as its setting. That's because the short's director, Sanjay Patel, saw his parents buy and operate Route 66's Lido Motel in San Bernardino, California, according to the Los Angeles Times. His family still owns the motel. The short film will be … Continue reading Pixar short film uses Route 66 motel as its setting
Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert may remain closed until 2016
A portion of the National Trails Highway (aka Route 66) from Essex, California, to just east of Amboy, California, may remain closed until 2016 because flash flooding in September 2014 damaged the roadway and bridges there, according to a San Bernardino County official. The flooding washed away about 50 bridges from Essex to Ludlow, California. … Continue reading Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert may remain closed until 2016
Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center opens
The Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center, a prominent new part of the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, opened to more than 300 guests in just three hours during its debut Saturday, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. Spurred by the success of Pontiac, Illinois, playing up Route 66 tourism, Bloomington embarked on a major renovation … Continue reading Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center opens
The top 10 restaurants of Route 66 are …
You can call it a landslide. The people have spoken, and the No. 1 restaurant on Route 66 won by nearly a 2-to-1 margin over the runner-up. More than two weeks ago, we launched an online poll via PollDaddy.com to find out from readers what they considered to be Route 66’s top 10 restaurants. More … Continue reading The top 10 restaurants of Route 66 are …
Section of old Route 66 in Kansas added to National Register
A 2-mile section of old Route 66 north of Baxter Springs, Kansas, was added to the National Register of Historic Places effective April 14, according to an email this week from the National Park Service. The National Register designation was expected after the Kansas Historical Society nominated it in February. The section of roadway also … Continue reading Section of old Route 66 in Kansas added to National Register