Michael Wallis, Rhys Martin, Ken Busby to be part of latest Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series

"Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis, Route 66 Alliance Executive Director and CEO Ken Busby and Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and National Preserve Route 66 manager with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will preside over this month's edition of the Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series. The livestream … Continue reading Michael Wallis, Rhys Martin, Ken Busby to be part of latest Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series

Michael Wallis to be keynote speaker at Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference

Organizers for the annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference announced that "Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis will be the keynote speaker for the Oct. 8-11 event in Springfield, Illinois, during the highway's centennial year. Wallis, also the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in Disney‑Pixar’s popular and influential "Cars" films, … Continue reading Michael Wallis to be keynote speaker at Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference

“Will Rogers Highway: Route 66” exhibit opens on Feb. 27 in Claremore

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, will open its "Will Rogers Highway: Route 66" exhibit on Feb. 27. The exhibit opens at 5 p.m. Admission will be free. The Cherokee Phoenix reported: The exhibit launches with the 1880s, illustrating America’s push for better roads beyond rough wagon trails, which spurred the rapid Good … Continue reading “Will Rogers Highway: Route 66” exhibit opens on Feb. 27 in Claremore

Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series to begin next month

Research Route 66 will kick off a Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series in January, when the first guest is David Dunaway, talking about "The Hidden Voices of Route 66." Throughout the series, participants will hear about diverse topics that highlight Route 66’s impact and legacy. Sessions will cover the history of foodways along the road, … Continue reading Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series to begin next month

Tulsa receives four proposals for Route 66 development near Cyrus Avery Plaza

The City of Tulsa has received four Route 66 mixed-use development proposals for a piece of land near Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza and the Arkansas River. A city committee now will evaluate the proposals, grading them on a points basis on how well each meets the city's goals for the land, the experience of the … Continue reading Tulsa receives four proposals for Route 66 development near Cyrus Avery Plaza

Route 66 Experience may become part of a $35 million hotel project in Tulsa

The long-planned Route 66 Experience interactive museum by the nonprofit Route 66 Alliance appears to have new life as part of a proposed $35 million hotel complex on the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa. KTUL-TV in Tulsa reported the developers hope to break ground on the project later this year. It's described as … Continue reading Route 66 Experience may become part of a $35 million hotel project in Tulsa

Tulsa Route 66 Commission requests $1.5M in federal funds for new signs, more parking

The chief of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission is requesting $1.5 million in funds from the coronavirus-related American Rescue Plan for new directional signs and more parking spaces along Route 66 in the city. Ken Busby, CEO of the commission, explained his reasoning to KTUL-TV in Tulsa: "One of the things that we still hear … Continue reading Tulsa Route 66 Commission requests $1.5M in federal funds for new signs, more parking

Charles Custer, a photographer of Route 66 in the early 1950s, dies at age 91

Charles Custer, a retired Chicago lawyer whose startlingly detailed photographs of Route 66 businesses that he and his wife Irene took in the early 1950s were recently re-discovered, died at age 91 in January. The Chicago Sun-Times described Custer's remarkable life and photographic legacy in an obituary last week. A memorial service had been planned … Continue reading Charles Custer, a photographer of Route 66 in the early 1950s, dies at age 91

Brookshire Motel in Tulsa catches fire again

The closed Brookshire Motel caught fire for a second time in 13 months last week, adding doubt on whether the historic Route 66 motel ever will be restored. The northernmost wing of the motel caught fire Thursday night, probably by homeless vagrants who broke into the property and started a fire to keep warm. The … Continue reading Brookshire Motel in Tulsa catches fire again

Despite losing $6M in funds, backers still push for building Route 66 Experience

The supporters of a Route 66 Experience complex near the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa still want to proceed with the project despite recently losing $6 million in funding from the city, according to one report. Public Radio Tulsa seems to be the first media outlet reporting the loss of the $6 million … Continue reading Despite losing $6M in funds, backers still push for building Route 66 Experience