The city of Joplin, Missouri, has embarked on a multi-pronged project to rebrand its historic East Town neighborhood, including adding new Route 66 signs along an original alignment there. The Joplin Globe reports new "Dreams - East Town" banners have gone up on light poles along the Langston Hughes-Broadway corridor (aka Route 66), which is … Continue reading Rebranding of Joplin’s East Town includes more Route 66 signs
Tag: Joplin
Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
The Route 66 Chamber of Commerce recently announced it seeks to move into the historic Dale's Ole 66 Barbershop in Joplin, Missouri. The main building also will host an art gallery. The chamber stated on its GoFundMe campaign and on a separate website that Dale's would would be restored so the chamber could use it … Continue reading Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
The historic rooftop neon sign at Wilder's Steakhouse in downtown Joplin, Missouri, was reinstalled Thursday after being taken down for several weeks for restoration. The official relighting ceremony for the sign will be at dusk Saturday, April 14. Sunset that day is 7:52 p.m., but it may become dark faster if skies are overcast. Here's a … Continue reading Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
Missouri Preservation to honor construction firm for its work in downtown Joplin
This week, Neal Group Construction will be honored by Missouri Preservation for its work in helping preserve dozens of buildings in downtown Joplin. According to the Joplin Globe, the company will receive the McReynolds Award for "significant achievement in the field of historic preservation" at Missouri Preservation's Statewide Preservation Honor Awards on Thursday. Among the buildings Neal … Continue reading Missouri Preservation to honor construction firm for its work in downtown Joplin
Wilder’s Steakhouse rooftop sign removed for restoration
The rooftop neon sign at Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, was removed Friday for restoration. A relighting ceremony for the sign is scheduled for dusk April 14. According to a news release, the animated neon sign has not operated for least 25 years. The restaurant at 1216 Main St. landed a $24,000 cost-share grant from … Continue reading Wilder’s Steakhouse rooftop sign removed for restoration
Holiday Inn with Route 66-themed restaurant opens in Joplin
A new, rare-model Holiday Inn that contains a restaurant inspired by Route 66 and hopes to attract Mother Road travelers opened a few days ago in Joplin, Missouri. The only problem is Holiday Inn Joplin at 3402 S. Arizona Ave. sits more than 2 1/2 miles south of the nearest alignment of Route 66 at Seventh … Continue reading Holiday Inn with Route 66-themed restaurant opens in Joplin
Joplin History Guide re-released and expanded
The Joplin (Missouri) Convention and Visitors Bureau expanded and re-released its Joplin History Guide -- the first update to that free publication in 15 years. According to the Joplin Globe newspaper: The guide is is not entirely new but is an enlarged version of one that was printed for the convention bureau in 2003. "It's … Continue reading Joplin History Guide re-released and expanded
Why historic preservation is important to future tourism
Joplin, Missouri, for years has sought to boost Route 66 tourism to its city. Officials there want more visitors to stay in the city for longer periods, thus generating more tax revenue. However, the Joplin Globe reported a Colorado-based consultant threw cold water on that idea -- mainly because the city doesn't have enough historic … Continue reading Why historic preservation is important to future tourism
Mother Road Marathon resumes with almost 900 runners
Nearly 900 runners participated in tri-state Mother Road Marathon, which resumed Sunday after a three-year hiatus. The 26.2-mile course went from Commerce, Oklahoma, through much of Route 66 in Kansas, and finished at Schifferdecker Park in Joplin, Missouri. A total of 300 runners competed in the full marathon. Another 400 ran a half-marathon, and 200 … Continue reading Mother Road Marathon resumes with almost 900 runners
Route 66 Bowl near Joplin being converted into training center
Route 66 Bowl, a facility which had served bowling fans for about a half-century near the Missouri-Kansas border, recently was purchased and is being converted into a wrestling training center and gym. KSN-TV reported Dave O'Banion, owner of Renegade Wrestling Academy in Joplin, Missouri, recently bought the facility, which also was known as Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 Bowl near Joplin being converted into training center