Cherokee Nation and city officials on Tuesday dedicated a mural commemorating artisan Anna Belle Sixkiller Mitchell, known as a Cherokee National Treasure, in downtown Vinita, Oklahoma, along Route 66. Mitchell, who lived in Vinita, was designated as a Cherokee National Treasure in 1988 for reviving traditional pottery methods and sharing her skill with others, according to a news … Continue reading Mural of Cherokee Nation artisan dedicated in Vinita
Category: Art
Virden History Mural deemed irreparable, will be repainted instead
Residents of Virden, Illinois, had hoped last year to restore the deteriorating Virden History Mural along Route 66. However, the mural was deemed unsalvageable, and it will be repainted from scratch with a whole new design. Here is a preliminary artist's rendering of the soon-to-come mural: The husband-and-wife team of Bernie Gietl and D.L. Whitlock-Gietl of … Continue reading Virden History Mural deemed irreparable, will be repainted instead
Officials break ground on De Anza project in Albuquerque
The long-awaited redevelopment of De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque officially began Wednesday with a ground-breaking ceremony at the historic but closed Route 66 motel. Mayor-elect Tim Keller and current mayor Richard Berry, who officially leaves office this week, were there to help use the shovels at the event, according to Albuquerque Business First. The … Continue reading Officials break ground on De Anza project in Albuquerque
New Route 66 mural goes up in Lexington
With the help of a local teenager, the Route 66 town of Lexington, Illinois, boasts a new mural that pays tribute to the Mother Road. Karen Wingo, owner of the Thrift Avenue store at Main Street and Route 66 in Lexington, told the Galva News how the project landed area high-school student Ana Cappis as … Continue reading New Route 66 mural goes up in Lexington
New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart
A new Route 66-themed mural in downtown Elkhart, Illinois, will be unveiled Sunday during a weekend that includes the 11th annual Car Cruise-In at The Mill in nearby Lincoln, Illinois. Here's more information about the mural from a news release: According to the Elkhart Historical Society, “the colorful hand-painted mural measuring 36 feet long by … Continue reading New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart
Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings
Someone a few weeks ago asked how many Route 66 tattoos were on the body of Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I said it was north of 100 but had no certainty, because Jones was liable to add one any given weekend. KTUL-TV in Tulsa caught up with Jones this week when he … Continue reading Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings
Two large chrome chickens coming to Route 66 in Edmond
Two 6-foot-tall chrome chickens will be coming soon to a new restaurant along Route 66 in Edmond, Oklahoma. The Edmond Sun newspaper reports the chrome chickens are manufactured from Harley-Davidson motorcycle exhaust pipes and other components by Rustic Steel Creations in Tampa, Florida. Here are a couple of edited photos of one of the chickens, … Continue reading Two large chrome chickens coming to Route 66 in Edmond
La Posada to begin restoration of east grounds, depot next month
La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, will begin a $2 million first phase of restoration of its east grounds and railroad depot in July. According to a Facebook post a few days ago from hotel owner Allan Affeldt, the project eventually will become the Winslow Arts Museum. More details: The Winslow Art Museum will explore … Continue reading La Posada to begin restoration of east grounds, depot next month
Professors honored for preserving vintage neon-sign drawings
Two professors from the University of New Mexico were given a state preservation award for saving hundreds of old drawings from the state's oldest neon-sign company. Many of them mock-ups of signs eventually were installed on Route 66. The New Mexico Historic Preservation Division honored Ellen Babcock and Mark Childs in the Heritage Publication division … Continue reading Professors honored for preserving vintage neon-sign drawings
Mural Fest 66 adds five murals to Miami in a few days
Miami, Oklahoma, wanted to add some murals to brighten up the Route 66 town. Thanks to the inaugural Mural Fest 66 last month, it added five murals to the city during a weekend. Here's a video of highlights from the festival: https://vimeo.com/216059105 According to a story by columnist Marta Churchwell in the Joplin Globe, the … Continue reading Mural Fest 66 adds five murals to Miami in a few days