Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years

Pat Smith, the director of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, is retiring later this month after 30 years at the facility. A going-away party will be hosted at the museum at 2229 W. Gary Blvd. (Route 66) at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, announced Jim Ross, a longtime Route 66 historian. The museum … Continue reading Director of Oklahoma Route Museum retiring after 30 years

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton marks its 30th anniversary

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, located in Clinton, marked its 30th anniversary last Tuesday. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who also leads the state's tourism department, paid tribute to the museum: The museum opened on Sept. 23, 1995, and is the oldest dedicated to the Mother Road. It draws 35,000 visitors annually, according to Oklahoma Tourism. … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton marks its 30th anniversary

Old firehouse in Clinton may be turned into a visitors center

The City of Clinton, Oklahoma, is applying for a state Route 66 centennial grant that could be used to convert its historic former fire station into a visitors center. The Clinton Daily News (subscription required) reported Thursday that the grant is due to be submitted on Sept. 30. Awards from the centennial grant program will … Continue reading Old firehouse in Clinton may be turned into a visitors center

Glancy Motel sign to be restored, moved to Oklahoma Route 66 Museum

The neon sign for the torn-down Glancy Motel in Clinton, Oklahoma, will be restored and moved to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in town. The Clinton Daily News (subscription required) published a photo of a company moving the sign Monday from its longstanding site at 217 W. Gary Blvd. (aka Route 66). The newspaper reported … Continue reading Glancy Motel sign to be restored, moved to Oklahoma Route 66 Museum

Third round of Oklahoma Route 66 grants announced

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association announced the third round of Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization grants totaling more than $5.5 million from the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. Several grant recipients were already reported here, including to the town of Canute and the Bristow Historic Society. This is a complete list. "With the centennial fast approaching, more … Continue reading Third round of Oklahoma Route 66 grants announced

Jerry McClanahan, the late Bunny Neff inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Longtime Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan of Chandler, Oklahoma, was inducted Saturday into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. The other inductee was the late Jeannette “Bunny” Neff of Sayre, Oklahoma, who advocated for Route 66 in the western part of the state for … Continue reading Jerry McClanahan, the late Bunny Neff inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

City of Clinton finally has a plan for orphaned Glancy Motel sign

Months after the motel itself was demolished, the City of Clinton appears to have settled on a new plan for the Glancy Motel sign. According to the Friday print edition of the Clinton Daily News, a report from a city council meeting stated the Oklahoma Highway Patrol would move the sign to 2225 W. Gary … Continue reading City of Clinton finally has a plan for orphaned Glancy Motel sign

Organization wants a big “Clinton” sign on city’s east side of Route 66

The city council of Clinton, Oklahoma, heard a local organization's proposal of a two-sided big sign to showcase an original section of Route 66 on the city's east side. According to a recent print edition of the Clinton Daily News, Andrew Stone of the West OK Co-op presented its idea to the city council where … Continue reading Organization wants a big “Clinton” sign on city’s east side of Route 66

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum to host Route 66 Hall of Fame induction, new exhibit

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma, later this month will host its biannual Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, plus a new photo exhibit by a current Route 66 advocate. The free ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. on July 27, though the museum itself at 2229 W. Gary Blvd. (aka … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Museum to host Route 66 Hall of Fame induction, new exhibit

Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission launches Kickstart 66 Tour on Thursday

The Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission is starting a Kickstart 66 Tour this week with the goal to spark development along the highway before its centennial in 2026. According to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, staff from the Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Main Street Center will make a series of stops in communities along … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission launches Kickstart 66 Tour on Thursday