Rainbow Bridge near Baxter Springs in line for funding to repaint it

One way or another, it appears the Marsh Arch Bridge, aka Rainbow Bridge, on old Route 66 near Baxter Springs, Kansas, will be repainted before the highway's centennial in 2026. According to the Galena Sentinel-Times, Gearhead Curios owner Aaron Perry and Machelle Smith of the Route 66 Association of Kansas recently approached the Cherokee County … Continue reading Rainbow Bridge near Baxter Springs in line for funding to repaint it

Big A the Texaco Giant installed at Gearhead Curios in Galena

Big A the Texaco Giant, a specially commissioned 21-foot-tall fiberglass figure, was successfully installed Sunday at Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas. The giant, colloquially called a Muffler Man, was installed by ReGiant at the former Texaco station at 520 S. Main St. (Route 66). Here are a bunch of photos or videos from the event: … Continue reading Big A the Texaco Giant installed at Gearhead Curios in Galena

Big A the Texaco Giant to be installed at Gearhead Curios in Galena on Sept. 8

The specially commissioned, nearly 20-foot-tall "Big A the Texaco Giant" will be installed at Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas, at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8. ReGiant, specializing in working on Muffler Men, will install the former Texaco station at 520 S. Main St. (Route 66). Enchanted Castle Studios made the figure itself. It has fabricated … Continue reading Big A the Texaco Giant to be installed at Gearhead Curios in Galena on Sept. 8

Gearhead Curios gets $12,500 state grant to help build “Big A the Texaco Man” fiberglass giant

Aaron Perry, owner of Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas, recently received a $12,500 tourism attraction development grant from the state to help build his planned "Big A the Texaco Man" statue at the site. "Everything is on target for a July installation," Perry wrote in a Facebook post. An outsized check was presented to Perry … Continue reading Gearhead Curios gets $12,500 state grant to help build “Big A the Texaco Man” fiberglass giant

Gearhead Curios wins first Outstanding Attraction honor from Jefferson Highway Association

Gearhead Curios of Galena, Kansas, and its owner Aaron Perry recently received the inaugural Outstanding Attraction award from the Jefferson Highway Association during its 11th annual conference in Alexandria, Louisiana. Gearhead Curios is best known for being on Route 66. The Jefferson Highway, which ran from New Orleans to Winnipeg, Manitoba, also went through Galena … Continue reading Gearhead Curios wins first Outstanding Attraction honor from Jefferson Highway Association

Gearhead Curios in Galena holds its official ribbon-cutting

Though it's been open for more than a year, Gearhead Curios in downtown Galena, Kansas, held its official ribbon-cutting on Saturday. The ceremony commemorated five years of renovations on the old Texaco site by owner Aaron Perry. Rhys Martin of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association was there when the deed was done: Another set of … Continue reading Gearhead Curios in Galena holds its official ribbon-cutting