The Duarte Historical Society & Museum in Duarte, California, will honor Claudia and Alan Heller when it dedicates a new Route 66 Room on June 30.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported the ceremony will be at 3 p.m. that day at the historical society’s museum at 777 Encanto Parkway (map here).
Claudia Heller was a longtime newspaper columnist. With her husband Alan, they wrote three books: “Life on Route 66,” “Duarte Chronicles” and “Curiosities of the California Desert.”
The Hellers also volunteered at the local chamber of commerce, city commissions and historical society.
More from the newspaper:
Claudia Heller was already ailing when the city dedicated a new Route 66 sign on the corner of Huntington Drive and Mount Olive Drive to her and her husband.
Alan was on hand to celebrate the special event on October 2023. Claudia died a little more than a month later, on Dec. 11, 2023. She was 79. […]
The new room is a fitting tribute to the Hellers, champions of local history who led the campaign to install a statue of Andres Duarte in town and also helped with the city’s Route 66 parade for many years. […]
The two inspired more than just a wanderlust and appreciation for Route 66 among so many, including love for family and community service. But their passion for the historic thoroughfare will soon to be enshrined in the museum where they dedicated so many years.
Refreshments will be provided during the ceremony; the museum asks attendees to RSVP by calling (626) 253-6600.
The museum is open from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. It also is open by appointment.
UPDATE 7/1/2024: The San Gabriel Valley Tribune posted a report on the Route 66 Room’s dedication.
Praising the couple’s great collaboration, about 100 people attended the dedication, featuring items from the collections of Alan Heller, Jim Kirchner and Richard Amadori. About 90% of the items, from license plates to stickers, are original pieces from hotels, restaurants and other businesses that once thrived along the 2,052-mile Mother Road connecting Illinois to California. […]
The new room heralds recent upgrades to the museum, too, including a new floor, lighting and paint. For his part, Alan Heller acknowledged the new room, housed in what was a store room, has been a dream of his wife’s.
(Image of the Duarte Historical Society & Museum via its website)