La Posada museum in Winslow soon will display the world’s largest Navajo rug

A museum at the landmark La Posada hotel in Winslow, Arizona, will hold a grand opening from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 2 to mark the long-planned display of the world’s largest single-loom Navajo rug. The Hubbell-Joe Rug, originally created for the Hubbell Trading Post in Winslow in 1932 by Navajo weaver Julia … Continue reading La Posada museum in Winslow soon will display the world’s largest Navajo rug

Red Cedar Inn Museum and Visitor Center to hold its grand opening on Aug. 26

The Red Cedar Inn Museum and Visitor Center, housed in a former Route 66 restaurant in Pacific, Missouri, will throw a long-awaited grand opening celebration on Aug. 26. The museum, visitors center and children's museum at 1047 E. Osage St. (aka Route 66) will hold a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. that day. Hours that … Continue reading Red Cedar Inn Museum and Visitor Center to hold its grand opening on Aug. 26

Route 66 town of Brooklyn, Illinois, added to Landmarks Illinois’ Most Endangered Places list

The oft-overlooked but historically rich town of Brooklyn, Illinois, recently was added to Landmarks Illinois' annual Most Endangered Places list. For the uninitiated, Brooklyn (aka Lovejoy) sits on Illinois Highway 3 between East St. Louis and Madison in the metro-east area of St. Louis. Illinois 3 was an alignment of Route 66 from 1929 to … Continue reading Route 66 town of Brooklyn, Illinois, added to Landmarks Illinois’ Most Endangered Places list

Fred & Red’s Chili in Joplin to celebrate its centennial next month

Fred & Red's Chili in Joplin, Missouri, will mark its 100th year in business with a vintage car show, giveaways and other events on Sept. 23. The number of restaurants on Route 66 that have hit the 100-year mark likely can be counted on one hand. Ike's Chili in Tulsa comes to mind, as do … Continue reading Fred & Red’s Chili in Joplin to celebrate its centennial next month

Albuquerque, county to move to revitalize an original stretch of Route 66

The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County each approved resolutions to improve an original stretch of Route 66 running south of the city before the highway's centennial in 2026. The Albuquerque Journal reported the efforts will involve Sunset Road and Isleta Boulevard, from Central Avenue to the Pueblo of Isleta. The two roads started as … Continue reading Albuquerque, county to move to revitalize an original stretch of Route 66

‘Big Indian’ statue in Massachusetts moving to Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita

What is Massachusetts' loss apparently is Oklahoma Route 66's gain. The Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma, recently acquired the so-called "Big Indian" that stood outside the Native and Himalayan Views, formerly the Big Indian Shop, for nearly 50 years in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. According to the Greenfield Recorder, the 20-foot-tall fiberglass statue was the subject … Continue reading ‘Big Indian’ statue in Massachusetts moving to Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita

“CBS Saturday Morning” airs a feature about Threatt Filling Station preservation

"CBS Saturday Morning" yesterday aired a 4 1/2-minute segment about recent preservation efforts for the Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma. The camera crew caught up with volunteers from the Oklahoma Historical Society, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Guthrie Job Corps and The Hope Crew when they were shoring up the century-old property in … Continue reading “CBS Saturday Morning” airs a feature about Threatt Filling Station preservation

Whisler’s Drive-Up restaurant in Carthage celebrating its 70th year in business

Whisler's Drive-Up restaurant in Carthage, Missouri, this year has entered into the rarified air of marking its 70th anniversary. The eatery at 300 N. Garrison Ave. sits on an alignment of Route 66 on the north side of town, before it was decommissioned in that area in 1972. Joplin Globe food columnist Cheryle Finley recently … Continue reading Whisler’s Drive-Up restaurant in Carthage celebrating its 70th year in business

Albuquerque sets aside $432,000 to restore or renovate historic Route 66 signs

The City of Albuquerque this week announced it is providing a total of $432,000 in grants to restore or renovate historic signs along its Central Avenue (aka Route 66). The city's Department of Arts and Culture and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency have developed a Sign Improvement Program for owners of historic signs who can restore … Continue reading Albuquerque sets aside $432,000 to restore or renovate historic Route 66 signs

President Biden designates new monument near Grand Canyon

President Joe Biden this week designated nearly 1 million acres as a new national monument near Grand Canyon National Park. The national monument will be called Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. "Baaj Nwaavjo" means "where tribes roam" in the native Havasupai language, and "I'tah Kukveni" means "our ancestral footprints" in the Hopi tribal … Continue reading President Biden designates new monument near Grand Canyon