Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced $4 million in grants for various projects along Route 66, including a visitors center in a former Edwardsville gas station, reopening the old Cannonball Jail in Carlinville and a new Muffler Man on a restaurant in Berwyn. According to Riverbender.com and … Continue reading Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66

Illinois tourism bureau applies for grant for Route 66 visitor center, reopening Cannonball Jail

A tourism bureau in southwest Illinois has applied for a state grant that would create a new Route 66 visitor center and reopen the Cannonball Jail in Carlinville, among other projects. According to Riverbender.com, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois applied for the grant under the state's Route 66 Grant Program administered … Continue reading Illinois tourism bureau applies for grant for Route 66 visitor center, reopening Cannonball Jail

An eye-catching new mural is finished on a big water tank in Sapulpa

A new mural on the side of a big water tank now will catch the eyes of Route 66 travelers on the west side of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. According to the Sapulpa Times (subscription only), the mural shows off the state's official wildflower, the Indian Blanket. The city recently finished tree-trimming around the site. Sapulpa city … Continue reading An eye-catching new mural is finished on a big water tank in Sapulpa

New mural in Sapulpa shows several Route 66 sites

A new mural in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, shows historical sites in that town, including several along Route 66. The 1,300-square-foot mural, which was finished earlier this week, stands near Dewey Avenue (aka Route 66) and Main Street. More from the Sapulpa Times: The mural is “a gift to the city” from Joni Rogers-Kante and The … Continue reading New mural in Sapulpa shows several Route 66 sites

A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist

An Oklahoma City television station recently profiled a Sooner State muralist who's painted up to 4,000 murals during his career, including several on Route 66. Here's the profile of Bob Palmer from KFOR-TV. You can see one of his Route 66 murals in the segment: Dozens of his historic-themed murals can be seen here. You'll … Continue reading A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist

The story behind the many graffiti murals at Mad Dog Liquor in Tulsa

For about 15 years, the Mad Dog Liquor store along Route 66 in east Tulsa has given a canvas to varying graffiti artists for their work. The Tulsa World talked to the store's owner, Jackie Dutton, who said the building originally was a drab gray but opened it up to local graffiti artists after gaining … Continue reading The story behind the many graffiti murals at Mad Dog Liquor in Tulsa

Murals in Cuba undergo a new preservation process

The city of Cuba, Missouri, is taking steps to protect its popular murals "for years to come" almost two decades after the first one was created. According to the Viva Cuba website, the city is using an Impact100 grant for the project: Involved since the inception, artist Shelly Smith Steiger is at it again. This … Continue reading Murals in Cuba undergo a new preservation process

New mural added to Yukon’s Best Flour mill in Yukon

A Costa Rican immigrant raised in Yukon, Oklahoma, recently completed a terrific-looking mural on the side of one of the buildings at the city's landmark Yukon's Best Flour mill elevator. Channel 9 in nearby Oklahoma City produced a video about the mural and its creator, Carlos Barboza. Here is more from the report: Barboza researched … Continue reading New mural added to Yukon’s Best Flour mill in Yukon

New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena

A new, huge and vintage-style Coca-Cola mural, complete with a Route 66 shield, recently was painted onto a prominent building in downtown Galena, Kansas, where two Route 66 alignments meet. The century-old building sits at Kansas Route 66 (the newer alignment) and Main Street (aka old Route 66). A local television station recently reported about … Continue reading New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena

Claremore adds first of many murals over six-year period

The city of Claremore, Oklahoma, and Claremore MainStreet recently finished the first of several murals that will be painted in downtown alleys. The first mural, painted by John Hammer, portrays Route 66, Oklahoma humorist Will Rogers and astronaut Stuart Roosa. Both grew up in Claremore. The city stated this about the mural program several weeks … Continue reading Claremore adds first of many murals over six-year period