The City of Amarillo is holding a “Route 66 Water Tower Celebration” on Wednesday morning to commemorate the new Route 66-themed paint job on its large water tower just off Sixth Avenue.
According to a news release from the city, the party will be at 9 a.m. at Smitty’s Food Park at 3913 Sixth Ave. (aka Route 66). The event will have live music and Route 66 giveaways.
Thanks to the efforts of the City of Amarillo, Dixie Painting and several organizations, the water tower on Sixth Street and Independence Street – on Route 66 – has been repainted with a Route 66 logo. The water tower will highlight Amarillo’s proud Route 66 history.
“The water tower overlooks Route 66 in Amarillo, and what better way to celebrate Amarillo’s history with Route 66 than with an iconic logo that can be seen all around the entire area,” said Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson. “All visitors and residents of Amarillo will have to do is look up, and they will see the city’s history with the most famous road in America.”
The Route 66 Water Tower Project was the result of fundraising efforts by many groups and organizations, including the Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Amarillo, Center City, the Historic 6th Street on Route 66 Association, the Old Route 66 Association of Texas and the San Jacinto Neighborhood Association.
The 15-by-16-foot Route 66 emblem should last seven to 10 years, with a maintenance fund established by the neighborhood.
(Image of the Route 66 emblem on a City of Amarillo water tower via Facebook)