Advocates for Phelps County, Missouri, are renewing their quest to establish a local Route 66 museum in St. James at an old car dealership within the next year.
The museum’s advocates, including its president James Standfast, want to develop the old Hutcheson Ford complex, and fundraising towards the purchase of the site continues, reported the Phelps County Focus.
The Route 66 Museum of Phelps County Inc., is currently operating out of The Mule Trading Post, where visitors come from all parts of the U.S., including the countries of Sweden, Germany, Italy and others. Many of these Route 66 travelers are bypassing Rolla and St James as all the websites mention no Route 66 museum for them to see in Phelps County. Many enthusiasts tell us they have flown to California, rented a car, and are driving to Chicago, while others say they fly to Chicago, rent a car and drive to California on Route 66. […]
Plans for the museum began to solidify in the spring of 2020 with an agreement to buy the old Hutchinson Ford property in St. James once the fundraising goal was reached. The initial concept is for vintage cars on display and developing the site’s five buildings into a museum including informational Route 66 displays, antiques on display or for sale, a Trail of Tears walking path and historically restored automotive service buildings. […]
Now with the pandemic mostly over, Standfast says the museum boosters hope to revamp fundraising toward the goal of purchasing the old Hutcheson Ford Property. One option being considered for fundraising is tiered memberships and potentially a higher trustee-level of support. Once finalized, more details on the program will be released later this year.
The Route 66 Museum of Phelps County also has a page on Facebook.
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