Missouri State University Libraries has been interviewing African American people who hailed from the Springfield, Missouri, area for the Greater Springfield Route 66 Oral History Project. The project, funded in part by a grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, has been posting the interviews every few weeks. If you have an hour, you'll … Continue reading Recording the black experience on Route 66
Poll: What are the top 10 icons of Route 66?
If you ever find yourself asked the question -- "What are the top stops on Route 66?" -- you'll probably find it very difficult to compile a short list because the number is so vast. Or you'll find yourself making a different list depending on the day, simply because of random memory variations in the … Continue reading Poll: What are the top 10 icons of Route 66?
Willem Bor builds more Route 66 miniatures
Willem Bor, a roadie from the Netherlands who's been building detailed scale models of Route 66 landmarks, has made a few more in recent months as gifts to fellow Mother Road fans. The first is a miniature of the ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post in eastern Arizona. He gave the model to Route … Continue reading Willem Bor builds more Route 66 miniatures
More auto-chargers coming to Route 66 in Illinois
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced the creation of a network of charging stations for electric vehicles along Route 66 in Illinois that will be operational by summer, according to various media outlets, including the Alton Telegraph. The Route 66 towns of Plainfield, Dwight, Pontiac, Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville and Edwardsville each will have a charging … Continue reading More auto-chargers coming to Route 66 in Illinois
Patti Page collection will be at Oklahoma museums
A collection of late singer Patti Page's memorabilia will be on display through the rest of the year at the Oklahoma History Center and will later travel to several other Oklahoma sites, including the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. According to The Oklahoman newspaper, the "Patti Page: Once Upon a Dream" exhibit from the … Continue reading Patti Page collection will be at Oklahoma museums
“Highway or My Way”
https://youtu.be/pE3kqBjRcnU Frank Kocevar, the former co-owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, put together this Route 66-themed video a few days ago. Frank now has time to travel the Mother Road and meet the people he heard about or those who came to his shop. So there may be quite a few people you … Continue reading “Highway or My Way”
Rialto Square Theatre will get a new marquee
The historic Rialto Square Theatre along Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, soon will receive a new marquee and will repaint its iconic vertical sign thanks to a $350,000 gift from a local construction firm owner, reported The Herald-News. The new marquee will have LED screens suitable for video under the name of the theater. Ed Czerkies of … Continue reading Rialto Square Theatre will get a new marquee
New yacht model named Route 66
An Italian luxury yacht company, ISA Yachts, is building a 217-foot-long yacht called Route 66 for delivery in spring 2017, according to Superyacht Times. According to Superyacht Business, the Route 66 design was unveiled at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last month. The boat is so named "in honor of the famous legendary American … Continue reading New yacht model named Route 66
A visit to the Red Ball Bar and Grill
Here's a restaurant in Baxter Springs, Kansas, that escaped my notice -- the Red Ball Bar and Grill, which uses the grille of an old truck as part of its grill. KSN-TV in Joplin has the story: Here's a screen capture of the aforementioned grill: The Red Ball occupies a building that was a grocery … Continue reading A visit to the Red Ball Bar and Grill
Albuquerque considers turning abandoned signs into public art
Albuquerque is considering an ordinance change that would make it easier to turn vacant and abandoned signs along old Route 66 into public art, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Ellen Babcock of the Friends of the Orphan Signs nonprofit is one of those who support the idea. The newspaper said: The art can be featured on … Continue reading Albuquerque considers turning abandoned signs into public art