Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month

The Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Illinois, will celebrate its 10th birthday on June 1 with a celebration two days later, on June 3. Cheryl Eichar Jett wrote about the initiative and history of the welcome center in the latest issue of The Buzz Monthly. It all started when Anne Jackson, … Continue reading Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month

The man behind many Route 66 neon sign restorations

KSDK-TV in St. Louis recently produced a story about neon signs along Route 66 in Missouri -- especially signs restored by the Route 66 Association of Missouri's Neon Heritage Preservation Committee. The fellow behind many of these restorations is David Hutson of Neon Time in St. Charles, Missouri. Hutson said: “When people tour Route 66, … Continue reading The man behind many Route 66 neon sign restorations

Oklahoma senator again criticizes Route 66 preservation program

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) again targets the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program with his "Wastebook," an annual publication released Tuesday that cites alleged government waste. In the publication, Coburn criticized the $81,224 the program awarded in cost-share grants to restore the roof of the historic DeCamp Junction near Staunton, Ill., the climate-control system of … Continue reading Oklahoma senator again criticizes Route 66 preservation program

Vic Suhling / Gas For Less sign glows again after 40-plus years

The restoration of the historic Vic Suhling / Gas For Less neon sign was unveiled Saturday evening next to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Ill. According to a news release, up to 200 people attended the event, including two of Suhling's daughters Bonnie and Bernice, one who traveled from Portland, … Continue reading Vic Suhling / Gas For Less sign glows again after 40-plus years

Vic Suhling sign will be relighted Oct. 26

The relighting of the soon-to-be-restored Vic Suhling / Gas for Less neon sign in Litchfield, Ill., will occur at dusk Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center, according to a release this week from the Neon Heritage Preservation Committee of the Route 66 Association of Missouri. The new museum, at 334 … Continue reading Vic Suhling sign will be relighted Oct. 26

Vic Suhling sign in Litchfield taken down for restoration

On Thursday, the historic Vic Suhling / Gas for Less sign along Route 66 in Litchfield, Ill., was removed for the first time in decades so it can be restored and reinstalled next to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. A St. Louis shop is doing the work. Plans are for the refurbished … Continue reading Vic Suhling sign in Litchfield taken down for restoration

Cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced six cost-share grants for 2013, totaling about $81,000. Since the program started in 2001, 114 projects have been awarded $1.6 million, with a $2.7 million in cost-share money from the recipient, totaling $4.3 million in public-private investment toward the preservation and revitalization of properties along historic Route 66 … Continue reading Cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program