The group that's seeking to build a Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Ill., seems to be fairly well-organized. According to a report in The Journal-News, based in nearby Hillsboro, the group has: Landed a general contractor, who pledges to use subcontractors and supplies entirely from Litchfield, except for the neon lighting. … Continue reading Litchfield getting organized for its Route 66 museum
County plans makeover of Albuquerque’s older Route 66 section
Bernalillo County, N.M., is planning an extensive makeover of the Bridge Boulevard section of the South Valley neighborhood of Albuquerque, reported KOB-TV. Here's the video report: Bridge Boulevard was Route 66 from 1926 to 1937, when the Route went southward to Los Lunas before resuming its westward direction. The better-known Central Avenue alignment didn't become … Continue reading County plans makeover of Albuquerque’s older Route 66 section
Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famer dies
Former Illinois State Police Capt. Francis Mowery, who was inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame, died at age 99 last week, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The Illinois Route 66 Association reported Mowery's death today on its website. Mowery was among the very first members inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famer dies
Blue Swallow Motel video
I'm not sure whether this is supposed to be some sort of advertisement for the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. It's effective, regardless. https://youtu.be/RAHOQjllaio The video was created by Petroglyph Pictures, which proclaims to be "capturing America's stories." Petroglyph also produced this video about the Walnut Street Inn, a bed-and-breakfast just south of Route … Continue reading Blue Swallow Motel video
Kickstarter campaign begun for U.S. 40 book
Frank Brusca, a longtime researcher of U.S. 40, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help finish a book about the historic highway he's been working on for decades. This is a little off-topic, but Route 66 fans often are fans of other historic highways, including U.S. 40, aka the National Road. Brusca also has inspired … Continue reading Kickstarter campaign begun for U.S. 40 book
Blue Whale vandalized
It was discovered Saturday morning that the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla., was vandalized in recent days. According to KOTV in Tulsa: Vandals wrote what is believed to be their names on the cultural icon, which was built in 1972, and Catoosa police are investigating. Police are not releasing photos of the graffiti because they feel it … Continue reading Blue Whale vandalized
“Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 6
Here’s the sixth installment of Japanese television’s “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” which chronicles a singer and actor’s trip down the Mother Road last fall. In this episode, he cowboys up at a ranch in the Amarillo area: https://vimeo.com/36947317 This is my favorite episode so far. Yamashita is clearly thrilled to be on the back of a horse; … Continue reading “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 6
New history museum in Springfield, Mo., may open by 2013
The History Museum of Springfield-Greene County in Springfield, Mo., is running out of room, and it hopes to reopen in a former downtown department store sometime in 2013, reported KY3-TV in Springfield. The station said: Three years ago the museum bought the old Barth’s department store building on the northeast quadrant of Park Central Square. Construction … Continue reading New history museum in Springfield, Mo., may open by 2013
Roadie wins free Phillips 66 fuel for a year
In November, we reported that St. Louis-based roadie Rich Dinkela of HookedonRoute66.com had entered the Local Legends contest sponsored by Phillips 66. The top winner would win $1,000 cash and free gasoline for a year. This was his video: https://youtu.be/4YN9Efq65nU The winners have been announced, and Dinkela finished third. He earned no cash, but he … Continue reading Roadie wins free Phillips 66 fuel for a year
The neon sign at Lou Mitchell’s
Here's a close-up of a beauty -- the neon sign at the historic Lou Mitchell's Restaurant, near the eastern end of Route 66 in Chicago: https://youtu.be/Zu22lXGT8Do This is one of many neon-sign videos by Mike at MindsIMedia.com. The neon sign clips are grouped here.