The Bristow, Oklahoma, Historical Society is busting a hump to raise funds to restore a 100-foot-tall Chrysler-Plymouth sign tower in time for Route 66’s centennial in 2026, and it is enlisting the help of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association to do it.
According to a recent story by the association:
There are multiple efforts underway to raise the money needed to relight the sign. The Bristow Historical Society is selling personalized bricks that will be installed at the base of a new display area for the landmark sign. […] The Historical Museum inside the old train depot is selling merchandise.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is keeping an eye out for grants and other opportunities that will help Bristow achieve their goal, which is $300,000. Joe Trigalet told KOTV last year, “We’ve got to soda blast it, and repaint it, the letters all have to be refurbished, the transformers that were on there from the original neon are like 70 years old.”
The Southern Plains MOPAR Fest, which took place over the weekend, also donated part of its proceeds towards the effort.
The historical society recently posted an artist’s rendering of the restored sign:
The neon sign tower just south of Route 66 once was part of Beard Motor Co. until the owner died in a plane crash in 1959. By several accounts, the sign has been dark for about 60 years.
The historical society initially announced restoring the tower in February 2022 among some other projects in Bristow.
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Great news! At last something is getting restored instead of torn down.
Fred from The Netherlands
I hope they are able t save this unique piece.