Nearly 18 months ago, Phil Gordon contacted me about his Route 66 Matchbook Cover Database and was asking for more submissions to it. At the time, the website contained 600 images of matchbooks from various businesses, past and present, along the Mother Road. Gordon recently informed me the database has swelled to more than 2,500 … Continue reading Route 66 Matchbook Cover Database grows in size
Category: History
Local historian talks about Mrs. Orcutt and her home and driveway near Newberry Springs
Andy Jones interviewed local historian Paul Deel about his experiences with Bonnie Margaret Orcutt of Newberry Springs, California, as they explored the remains of her long-abandoned home. Jones said he was prompted to interview Deel after viewing a Sidetrack Adventures video, posted on this website, about Orcutt's infamous 4-mile-long driveway. Here's Jones' interview, which contains … Continue reading Local historian talks about Mrs. Orcutt and her home and driveway near Newberry Springs
Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City has hosted a lot more than just prep football
The nearly 90-year-old Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City remains a big focal point for high school football in that region. The red-stone facade of Taft Stadium, aka Energy FC Field, sits at 2501 N. May Ave. (aka Route 66) and was a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression era. It plays host to … Continue reading Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City has hosted a lot more than just prep football
Big Brutus will mark its 60th birthday on Friday and Saturday
Big Brutus, an enormous electric coal shovel that’s become a side trip for Route 66 travelers in Kansas, will be part of a 60th birthday celebration on Friday and Saturday this week. Big Brutus is located at 6509 NW 60th St. in West Mineral, Kansas, about 30 miles from the Route 66 town of Riverton. The Joplin … Continue reading Big Brutus will mark its 60th birthday on Friday and Saturday
Coffee shop coming to long-vacant Red’s Giant Hamburg property
A Trailer Perk Coffee shop is under construction at the lot that contained Red's Giant Hamburg restaurant in Springfield, Missouri, nearly 40 years ago. Route 66 News reader and Springfield resident Mark Mahy sent over a recent photo of the construction of the coffee shop underway. Despite the location being the home of Red's for … Continue reading Coffee shop coming to long-vacant Red’s Giant Hamburg property
Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month
The Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Illinois, will celebrate its 10th birthday on June 1 with a celebration two days later, on June 3. Cheryl Eichar Jett wrote about the initiative and history of the welcome center in the latest issue of The Buzz Monthly. It all started when Anne Jackson, … Continue reading Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month
New indoor mural is being painted in Galena Mining and History Museum
An artist is painting a mural inside the Galena Mining and History Museum in Galena, Kansas, and anticipates finishing it in about 10 days. According to KSNF-TV and museum director Linda Phipps, Sandra Pemberton's mural will depict Galena's railroad, mining and Route 66 history. Here's what Phipps said inspired the mural: “I was visiting my … Continue reading New indoor mural is being painted in Galena Mining and History Museum
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
Former Christian Science church in Tulsa to be converted into a concert venue
A historic church in downtown Tulsa that once was part of the Christian Science denomination will be converted into a modern concert venue and recording studio. GH2 Architects of Tulsa made the announcement this week on Facebook and included artist's renderings of the transformed space: The former First Church of Christ, Scientist at 924 S. … Continue reading Former Christian Science church in Tulsa to be converted into a concert venue
Ike’s Chili in Tulsa participates in fundraiser for Will Rogers Museum renovations
The owner of the more-than-century-old Ike's Chili in Tulsa is donating a portion of its revenues to help pay for renovations at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in nearby Claremore. Len Wade, owner of the restaurant at 1503 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66), told News on 6 in Tulsa he's motivated to help the … Continue reading Ike’s Chili in Tulsa participates in fundraiser for Will Rogers Museum renovations