The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau of southwest Illinois recently named the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville and Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville as Local Legends during the bureau's tourism summit. The summit was held at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and attended by about 250 people, the Alton Telegraph reported. … Continue reading Ariston Cafe, World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Wildey Theatre named Local Legends by tourism bureau
Category: Attractions
Fire station in Tulsa rededicated for Route 66
Tulsa's only fire station on Route 66, Fire Station 30, was rededicated this week as Fire Station 66 with a splashy new logo and renaming its trucks Engine and Ladder 66, with “Keepers of the Mother Road” across their cabs. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, city officials and Route 66 enthusiasts attended the rededication ceremony … Continue reading Fire station in Tulsa rededicated for Route 66
Decopolis adding two stores along Tulsa’s Route 66
Decopolis, originally founded in downtown Tulsa to pay tribute to the city's storied Art Deco architecture, announced it is adding two stores along Tulsa's 11th Street alignment of Route 66. Decopolis founder and artist William Franklin told the Tulsa World newspaper he plans to open two venues, Decopolis Curiosities & Wonders and Tulsarama, at 1401 … Continue reading Decopolis adding two stores along Tulsa’s Route 66
Analysis: Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque won’t be sustainable for 3 years
An analysis estimated a proposed Route 66 Visitor Center on Nine Mile Hill in west Albuquerque won't be sustainable for the first three years of its operation. The Route 66 Visitor Center is scheduled to break ground at the site later this year. Its estimated cost has risen from an initial $3.4 million less than … Continue reading Analysis: Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque won’t be sustainable for 3 years
History Museum on the Square named Best New Attraction by USA Today
The History Museum on the Square in Springfield, Missouri, won the award for Best New Attraction in USA Today's annual 10Best listings. The nationwide newspaper wrote this about the downtown museum: The history of Route 66 comes alive at the new Springfield History Museum on the Square, where six galleries tell the stories of Springfield’s … Continue reading History Museum on the Square named Best New Attraction by USA Today
Road closed in Petrified Forest National Park for pavement, bridge work
A lengthy section of road in the Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona will be closed through late March, with possible travel delays through June after the road reopens. According to the Navajo-Hopi Observer, the road closure begins south of the Blue Mesa Loop and north of the Crystal Forest trail area. Areas closed … Continue reading Road closed in Petrified Forest National Park for pavement, bridge work
Gearhead Curios in Galena wants your old license plates
The folks who are renovating an old Texaco station in Galena, Kansas, into Gearhead Curios are asking for old license plates to help cover the ceiling of their shop. The shop put out this message on Facebook a few days ago: In case you missed the initial news about a year ago, Aaron Perry, a … Continue reading Gearhead Curios in Galena wants your old license plates
Tulsa officials want more funding for Route 66 marketing
At least one Tulsa city council member wants to find ways to generate more money so the city can spend more on Route 66 marketing efforts, and another official has suggested a specialty license plate. Public Radio Tulsa reports City Councilor Jeannie Cue, who represents Tulsa's southwest side, said too many travelers on Interstate 44 … Continue reading Tulsa officials want more funding for Route 66 marketing
Newspaper editorial floats National Park idea for Route 66
In the wake of the ongoing struggle to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, a newspaper along the historic highway has floated an intriguing idea -- make Route 66 a national park instead. The editorial board of the Joplin Globe in Missouri published an editorial with that proposal a few days ago. Below … Continue reading Newspaper editorial floats National Park idea for Route 66
Singing Road of Route 66 in Tijeras is fading; county mulls maintenance takeover
It's been known that without regular upkeep, the so-called Singing Road portion of Route 66 near Tijeras, New Mexico, would continue to fade in volume and eventually go silent. More than five years after the specially tuned rumble strips were created, the county is considering taking over maintenance of the Singing Road for the benefit … Continue reading Singing Road of Route 66 in Tijeras is fading; county mulls maintenance takeover