Claudia Heller, a longtime columnist for several newspapers in Southern California and an enthusiastic Route 66 researcher, died at 79. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported she died on Dec. 11 after a lengthy illness. She and her husband of 60 years, Alan, were just a few days from each celebrating their 80th birthdays. Claudia … Continue reading Claudia Heller, longtime columnist and Route 66 historian, dies at 79
Category: People
Three named to Laclede County Route 66 Wall of Fame’s latest class
Three individuals will be inducted into the Laclede County Route 66 Wall of Fame during a ceremony next month. The Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society announced the third set of inductees last week. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the Cowan Civic Center in Lebanon, Missouri, during the society's … Continue reading Three named to Laclede County Route 66 Wall of Fame’s latest class
Route 66 Podcast is offering scholarships for students from kindergarten through college
Anthony Arno of the Route 66 Podcast recently announced he is offering Route 66 scholarships ranging from $25 to $1,000 for students from kindergarten age through college. Here's what Arno stated in an email: Students simply need to show the spirit of Route 66 in their very own creative and expressive way. Past recipients can be … Continue reading Route 66 Podcast is offering scholarships for students from kindergarten through college
Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant
The Joliet Area Historical Museum is considering the acquisition of the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant -- best known for its unique, 28-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue -- in nearby Wilmington, Illinois. The Herald-News published the story Saturday less than a week after the Launching Pad was listed for $1.4 million on the Crexi commercial … Continue reading Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant
A chance meeting with Roger Miller’s brother in Erick
Otis Gibbs, who regularly posts interviews with music artists on his YouTube channel, recently was traveling on Route 66 and by happenstance bumped into Roger Miller's brother in front of the Roger Miller mural in his adopted hometown of Erick, Oklahoma. You'll find the quirky sense of humor Roger had was passed along to his … Continue reading A chance meeting with Roger Miller’s brother in Erick
Fire at Molly’s Landing restaurant in Catoosa kills one person
Molly's Landing restaurant, a fixture along Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, for nearly 40 years, was severely damaged by fire early Friday that apparently killed one person. KJRH-TV in nearby Tulsa reported Friday afternoon that one body was found in an upstairs apartment of the restaurant. Melissa Beasley-Lee, president of the New Mexico Route 66 … Continue reading Fire at Molly’s Landing restaurant in Catoosa kills one person
Sculptor wants a giant statue of aviation pioneer Wiley Post in Edmond
An Oklahoma City sculptor is seeking to erect a 50-foot-tall statue of aviation pioneer Wiley Post along Route 66 in nearby Edmond. Post's accomplishments are numerous: the first to fly solo around the world, a key developer of one of the first pressure suits and a discoverer of the jet stream. Post was born in Texas, but his family moved … Continue reading Sculptor wants a giant statue of aviation pioneer Wiley Post in Edmond
Angel Delgadillo receives President’s Award for National Leadership in Historic Preservation
Ninety-six-year-old Angel Delgadillo traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the President’s Award for National Leadership in Historic Preservation on Nov. 8 from the National Trust of Historic Preservation. According to a news release from the National Trust, Delgadillo's honor "recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional contributions to the field of preservation." It's … Continue reading Angel Delgadillo receives President’s Award for National Leadership in Historic Preservation
Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield may be expanded
The Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois, may be expanded to include a replica of future President Abraham Lincoln's 1844 cottage and the nearby Elijah Iles House, named for one of the city's early settlers. U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth introduced legislation last week to expand the boundaries of the site, which is run … Continue reading Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield may be expanded
Angel Delgadillo chosen as an Arizona Historymaker for 2023
Angel Delgadillo, the Seligman, Arizona, barber who shepherded the creation of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona in 1987 and the designation of that state's Route 66 as a historic highway, will be honored Saturday as an Arizona Historymaker. The Arizona Historymakers Turquoise & Treasures Celebration will be held from 3 to 7 p.m., … Continue reading Angel Delgadillo chosen as an Arizona Historymaker for 2023