The City of Springfield, Illinois, recently accepted a $623,000 state grant to reopen Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum along Route 66. According to the Springfield State Journal-Register, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl wants to make the closed station on Peoria Road (aka Route 66) an "Instagram-able stop," especially for international travelers. Dahl elaborated on … Continue reading Springfield plans to reopen Bill Shea’s Gas Station Museum
Category: Gas stations
Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs makes list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
The nearly century-old Osterman Gas Station along Route 66 in Peach Springs, Arizona, on Tuesday made the annual list of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The list spotlights significant sites of American history "that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage." The National Trust for 36 years has … Continue reading Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs makes list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
Buck’s Cosmic Crash Pad in Tulsa will be converted to Buck’s Vintage Shop next month
Buck’s Cosmic Crash Pad, an Airbnb site for three years in Tulsa directly behind Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66, will be converted to Buck’s Vintage Shop in June. Buck's owner Mary Beth Babcock made the announcement in a social media post on Tuesday: In a discussion thread, Babcock said the new venture would offer … Continue reading Buck’s Cosmic Crash Pad in Tulsa will be converted to Buck’s Vintage Shop next month
Route 66 Interpretive Center in Edwardsville sets grand opening for June 9
The forthcoming Route 66 Interpretive Center, housed in a former gas station in Edwardsville, Illinois, will hold its grand opening on June 9. According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the center will be open from Friday through Sunday after it opens. The building is the former West End Service Station at the corner of West and … Continue reading Route 66 Interpretive Center in Edwardsville sets grand opening for June 9
Illinois awards $6.6M in Route 66 and tourism marketing grants
The governor of Illinois and the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced last week it would give 58 awards totaling $6.6 million through the Route 66 and Tourism Marketing Grant Programs to boost Route 66 tourism. The Route 66 grant program is awarding $3.7 million to seven recipients for the development of tourism, … Continue reading Illinois awards $6.6M in Route 66 and tourism marketing grants
American Giants Museum to hold a soft opening on Memorial Day weekend
The American Giants Museum along Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois, will hold a soft opening on Memorial Day weekend. Those details and others came in a news release Tuesday from the nonprofit Atlanta Betterment Fund, which is helping shepherd the project with museum creator Joel Baker, who for years has been a preservation advocate and … Continue reading American Giants Museum to hold a soft opening on Memorial Day weekend
Campground planned for closed Minnetonka Trading Post site near Winslow
A campground is planned for the site of the long-closed Minnetonka Trading Post along Route 66 east of Winslow, Arizona. Blue Miller, known for her well-researched Never Quite Lost historical blog, passed along the good news about the site on the Historic Route 66 page on Facebook. She wrote: I am pleased to bring you … Continue reading Campground planned for closed Minnetonka Trading Post site near Winslow
Elmo Quinn, owner of Quinn’s Shell station in Bloomington, dies at 82
Elmo Quinn, the former owner of Quinn's Shell station along Route 66 in Bloomington, Illinois, died Wednesday. He was 82. Quinn was so beloved for his kindness, he was known as the "Mayor of Main Street," according to a story in the Bloomington Pantagraph. Quinn's welcoming personality and community insight helped establish his mayoral nickname, … Continue reading Elmo Quinn, owner of Quinn’s Shell station in Bloomington, dies at 82
Route 66 Interpretive Center in Edwardsville likely will be open by summer
The new Route 66 Interpretive Center, located in a former gas station in Edwardsville, Illinois, will be open to the public by late spring or summer once remodeling for the project is finished. The building at St. Louis and West streets (aka Route 66) also once served as a dental office. Last summer, Great Rivers … Continue reading Route 66 Interpretive Center in Edwardsville likely will be open by summer
New Mexico Route 66 Association’s motor tour goes on hiatus this year due to Tucumcari project
The New Mexico Route 66 Association last week announced it would pause its annual motor tour this year because of the complexities of moving its office to Tucumcari. Sue Montgomery, vice president and membership officer with the association, stated in an email: So good news is that the NM Rt 66 Association in conjunction with … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association’s motor tour goes on hiatus this year due to Tucumcari project