People gathered in Springfield, Missouri, on Saturday night to mark the 150th birthday of John T. Woodruff -- one of the city's top early developers and a key figure in establishing U.S. Highway 66. The event occurred at the former Kentwood Arms Hotel, now a dormitory for Missouri State University, in downtown Springfield. More in … Continue reading John T. Woodruff’s 150th birthday observed
Tag: Springfield MO
Route 66 projects included in Springfield capital-improvements plan
The city of Springfield, Missouri, will undertake more than 100 capital-improvement projects worth more than $80 million in fiscal year 2018, including a few Route 66 plans. The Springfield News-Leader reports the city council needs to approve the list next month, and the fiscal year begins in July. So it probably will be late summer … Continue reading Route 66 projects included in Springfield capital-improvements plan
C-SPAN to feature Springfield, Missouri, in January
Residents of Springfield, Missouri, last week welcomed a film crew from C-SPAN that will feature the city during the cable network's C-SPAN Cities Tour of several medium-sized cities. Among the segments the nonprofit cable network featured were about Wild West figure Wild Bill Hickok, the Trail of Tears, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield of the Civil … Continue reading C-SPAN to feature Springfield, Missouri, in January
Route 66 a reason Trump picked Springfield for speech
U.S. President Donald Trump will give a speech today about tax reform in Springfield, Missouri, and one of the reasons he choose the Ozarks city was because of its historic link to Route 66. According to the Springfield News-Leader, a senior White House official mentioned Route 66 prominently during a conference call with reporters: "This is … Continue reading Route 66 a reason Trump picked Springfield for speech
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival attendance shatters records
Total attendance at the just-completed Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, not only broke a record, but shattered the old mark. The Springfield Business Journal reported total attendance over the past weekend was 53,000, which exceeded last year's record of 38,000 by an astonishing 40 percent. The newspaper reported: During the event celebrating … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Festival attendance shatters records
New Route 66 exhibit opens in History Museum on the Square
History Museum on the Square in downtown Springfield, Missouri, on Monday opened its latest exhibit, "Memories of the Mother Road: Birthplace of Route 66." The show will run through the end of the year. Katy Rawlins, office manager for the museum, explained the show in an email: The exhibit focuses on the route through Springfield … Continue reading New Route 66 exhibit opens in History Museum on the Square
Replica of Red’s Giant Hamburg soon will break ground
A long-gestating project to re-create the fabled Red's Giant Hamburg restaurant in Springfield, Missouri, will clear a big hurdle when its developers break ground within the next 30 days. David Campbell, best-known for the Buckingham's regional barbecue chain, and partner Greg Iott are leading the quest to re-create Red's. Campbell said in a telephone interview … Continue reading Replica of Red’s Giant Hamburg soon will break ground
‘Blight’ designation may boost Springfield’s Kearney Street
It sounds counter-intuitive, but the city of Springfield, Missouri, is considering declaring Kearney Street blighted so it can improve it in the future. Kearney remains a prominent Route 66 alignment once known as a car-cruising corridor during the 1970s and '80s, until city fathers cracked down on it. Since then, Kearney has declined into a … Continue reading ‘Blight’ designation may boost Springfield’s Kearney Street
Route 66 fan producing documentary on music scene of Springfield, Missouri
Dave Hoekstra, a big Route 66 fan for much of his 30-year career at the Chicago Sun-Times, is producing a film series about unheralded rich music scenes in the United States, including Springfield, Missouri. Titled "Song of an Unsung America," the film series delves into Springfield's importance as the site of television's "Ozark Jubilee" and … Continue reading Route 66 fan producing documentary on music scene of Springfield, Missouri
City of Springfield to promote car cruising on Kearney Street
In a historic reversal, the city council of Springfield, Missouri, earlier this week voted unanimously to promote car cruising along Kearney Street -- a prominent Route 66 alignment -- on certain Friday nights this summer. The city now will encourage motorists to cruise on Kearney Street from 6 to 10 p.m. the second Friday of each … Continue reading City of Springfield to promote car cruising on Kearney Street