The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announced Thursday it has awarded grants totaling $5,000 to byway members for various projects. These are the grant awardees: Sky View Drive-In theater in Litchfield, Illinois: $1,000 to help repaint its screen;Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois: $1,000 to build a series of informative and interpretative banners and signage … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $5,000 in grants to various projects
Tag: Edwardsville
Ariston Cafe, World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Wildey Theatre named Local Legends by tourism bureau
The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau of southwest Illinois recently named the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville and Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville as Local Legends during the bureau's tourism summit. The summit was held at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and attended by about 250 people, the Alton Telegraph reported. … Continue reading Ariston Cafe, World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Wildey Theatre named Local Legends by tourism bureau
Kaiser-Frazer neon sign near Mitchell disappears
A rare Kaiser-Frazer neon sign that stood for decades along Route 66 in Mitchell, Illinois, recently disappeared, and its whereabouts remain unknown. The sign was unique in that it was repainted and neon tubing installed to advertise the Town & Country Motel. But the paint job eventually peeled off, revealing the porcelain Kaiser-Frazer sign underneath. … Continue reading Kaiser-Frazer neon sign near Mitchell disappears
Florist takes over Hi-Way Tavern building in Edwardsville
The historic Hi-Way Tavern and Cafe building along Route 66 in Edwardsville, Illinois, is being renovated into a Krupp Florist. The Edwardsville Intelligencer newspaper reports Walter Bergman has worked in the past few weeks to preserve the old mood of the building at 463 E. Vandalia St. (aka Route 66) but make it more welcoming … Continue reading Florist takes over Hi-Way Tavern building in Edwardsville
Two Edwardsville businesses on Route 66 soon will switch places
If you go looking for Afterwords Books or Bailey Cakes at their old locations along Route 66 in Edwardsville, Illinois, and you can't find it, you probably won't have to look for long. That's because the two businesses will be switching locations, almost across the street from each other. The Belleville News-Democrat reports the bakery will … Continue reading Two Edwardsville businesses on Route 66 soon will switch places
Route 66 tourist center opens in Edwardsville
A Route 66 information center in Edwardsville, Illinois, has opened in the Afterwords Books store, which was a tourist inn for Route 66 travelers many years ago. The Edwardsville Intelligencer reports the city's Historic Preservation Commission forged a partnership with the bookstore to offer brochures and information about restaurants, museums, hotels, entertainment and other visitor information about Edwardsville. Cindy Reinhardt … Continue reading Route 66 tourist center opens in Edwardsville
Official: Edwardsville missing Route 66 opportunities
Edwardsville, Illinois, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the St. Louis metropolitan region. That didn't stop a local official from saying the city was missing an opportunity for Route 66 tourism. Historic Preservation Commission associate member Cindy Reinhardt talked about those missed opportunities in front of the Edwardsville City Council, according to the Daily Intellgencer: … Continue reading Official: Edwardsville missing Route 66 opportunities
More Genuine Route 66 Lives
KC Keefer recently uploaded a few more videos as part of his Genunine Route 66 Life series. Here is Bob Russell, mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, who personally greets many Route 66 travelers as they arrive in downtown Pontiac. The clip prominently features the bus of late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. https://youtu.be/X6MmLMJ3RWQ Next is historian … Continue reading More Genuine Route 66 Lives
Edwardsville Route 66 Conference is back on
The Edwardsville Route 66 Conference is set for Oct. 29-31 at the historic Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Illinois, after it was abruptly canceled a few weeks ago. The Illinois Route 66 Blue Carpet Corridor Coalition is sponsoring the event. Online registration for the event will begin about April 1. The event is called "Miles of Possibility: The … Continue reading Edwardsville Route 66 Conference is back on
Route 66 conference in Edwardsville canceled
A Route 66 conference slated for late October in Edwardsville, Illinois, has been canceled because of logistical challenges in organizing it, according to a news release sent Tuesday. Cheryl Eichar Jett wrote in the release: Unfortunately, it was too much of a logistical challenge with the City of Edwardsville and plans have never been finalized. There … Continue reading Route 66 conference in Edwardsville canceled