The Oklahoma Route 66 Association announced last week that a painted U-Haul truck once owned by the late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire is undergoing restoration. A teacher with the Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City approached the association during its January meeting and proposed restoring it as a student project. LD’s Wrecker in … Continue reading Restoration begins on Bob Waldmire’s U-Haul truck
Tag: Rhys Martin
Oklahoma Educational Television Authority airs “Route 66: The First 100 Years”
Recently, the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority debuted a 27-minute documentary, "Route 66: The First 100 Years," on many PBS stations in the Sooner State. The entire documentary can be viewed online here. Below is a trailer: https://youtu.be/flXNvvYjiN8?si=uRavDz98KO68MawA In it, you'll find many Oklahoma Route 66 authorities such as Jerry McClanahan, Jim Ross, Rhys Martin, Michael … Continue reading Oklahoma Educational Television Authority airs “Route 66: The First 100 Years”
Rhys Martin named Tulsan of the Year by TulsaPeople Magazine
Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, manager of the Preserve Route 66 Initiative and a member of numerous other Route 66 groups, earned the annual Tulsan of the Year honor by TulsaPeople Magazine. The magazine chose Martin because of his years of advocacy for Route 66 -- especially with its centennial starting … Continue reading Rhys Martin named Tulsan of the Year by TulsaPeople Magazine
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
Chrysler Plymouth tower sign in Bristow dismantled for restoration
The 110-foot-tall Chrysler Plymouth tower sign in Bristow, Oklahoma, was taken apart Monday so it can be restored and then reassembled on Route 66 in the city. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, snapped a few photos of the job: Encino Signs in nearby Tulsa has been contracted to restore the sign. … Continue reading Chrysler Plymouth tower sign in Bristow dismantled for restoration
Oklahoma Route 66 Association president is keynote speaker for Miles of Possibility Conference
The annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference, scheduled for Oct. 9-11 in Joliet, Illinois, recently announced that Rhys Martin, author, photographer and president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, will be the event's keynote speaker. The conference's main activities will be at the Joliet Area Historical Museum. The conference stated in a news release … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association president is keynote speaker for Miles of Possibility Conference
State of Oklahoma issues new state map that commemorates Route 66
Last week, the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission announced the launch of a Route 66 commemorative map for the Sooner State. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who also leads the state's tourism agency and is a big proponent of Route 66, attended a news conference at the state Capitol to promote the 2025-2026 map. The maps … Continue reading State of Oklahoma issues new state map that commemorates Route 66
Route 66 Postcard Road Trip named as finalist in StoryMaps competition
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Route 66 Postcard Road Trip has been selected as one of 11 finalists in the Humanities category for the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps competition. The Route 66 Postcard Road Trip was selected from over 570 submissions from student and professional storytellers invited to “build stories about the world they want to see.” … Continue reading Route 66 Postcard Road Trip named as finalist in StoryMaps competition
Route 66 Christmas Tree Farm in Tulsa opens to the public
Part art installation and roadside attraction, the Route 66 Christmas Tree Farm in southwest Tulsa opened to the public last weekend. It is the brainchild of Josh and Amanda Stout, who own an art gallery across the street. Last winter, they put out a call for artificial Christmas trees -- not expecting they would receive … Continue reading Route 66 Christmas Tree Farm in Tulsa opens to the public
Donated paint from Benjamin Moore helps spruce up Galena Mining & Historical Museum
Paint donated by Benjamin Moore Paints through a National Trust for Historic Preservation program helped brighten up the Galena Mining and Historical Museum along Route 66 in Galena, Kansas. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and new manager of the National Trust's Preserve Route 66 Initiative program, recently posted this video of … Continue reading Donated paint from Benjamin Moore helps spruce up Galena Mining & Historical Museum