City of Chandler launches Route 66 neon sign grant program

The city government of Chandler, Oklahoma, recently announced it has implemented a neon-sign grant program for its Route 66 corridor. The program provides cost-share funds for businesses that want to make a custom neon sign or fix an existing one. Here are the requirements: Eligible businesses must be on Route 66 and within city limits. … Continue reading City of Chandler launches Route 66 neon sign grant program

Joel Baker of American Giants Museum to be keynote speaker at Miles of Possibility Conference

Joel Baker, founder of the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois, will be the keynote speaker during the Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference at the historic Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Illinois. The conference's theme, naturally, will be "Giants of Route 66." It will run from Oct. 31 through Nov. 3. Baker is the nation’s … Continue reading Joel Baker of American Giants Museum to be keynote speaker at Miles of Possibility Conference

Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission launches Kickstart 66 Tour on Thursday

The Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission is starting a Kickstart 66 Tour this week with the goal to spark development along the highway before its centennial in 2026. According to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, staff from the Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Main Street Center will make a series of stops in communities along … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission launches Kickstart 66 Tour on Thursday

Oklahoma Route 66 Association wants plans altered for rehabbing Ribbon Road

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is asking fans of Route 66 and Oklahoma history to lend their voice to an effort to preserve the Ribbon Road, a unique stretch of the famous highway in Ottawa County. “We agree that the road needs to be rehabilitated,” said Rhys Martin, president of the association. “With the centennial … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association wants plans altered for rehabbing Ribbon Road

Oklahoma Route 66 Association moving into new site in Tulsa

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is moving from its longtime base in Chandler into the Renaissance Square Event Center at 2620 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) in Tulsa. The association will hold an open house at its new home from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 23. Local author Michael Wallis will be … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association moving into new site in Tulsa

Repairs to Arcadia’s Round Barn were completed this month

A weeks-long project to repair the 120-year-old Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma, was finished on Feb. 9. The general contractor, Holman Construction, said the repairs would add another 30 years of life to the Route 66 landmark. The cost was a little more than $110,000, with $30,000 coming from a grant from the Route 66 … Continue reading Repairs to Arcadia’s Round Barn were completed this month

Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa

The research materials of late Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark recently were donated to the Tulsa branch of Oklahoma State University. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association stated in a Facebook post that Clark's papers were given by her family to the association several years ago. With the donation to OSU-Tulsa, the papers are now … Continue reading Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa

Oklahoma Route 66 Association puts 30 years of newsletters in online archive

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced it had placed about 30 years of its quarterly newsletters on an online archive, including its very first issue in 1990. Association President Rhys Martin stated the archive provides "a window into the past to show how far we’ve come.” The newsletters chart the ups and downs over … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association puts 30 years of newsletters in online archive

One of the trusses is reinstalled on landmark Pony Bridge near Bridgeport

One down, 37 to go. The first of 38 trusses salvaged from the landmark Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, was reinstalled Thursday as part of the span's reconstruction, reported the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. Here are a couple of photos from the event: The bridge project reportedly is ahead of schedule -- to the point … Continue reading One of the trusses is reinstalled on landmark Pony Bridge near Bridgeport

Organization aims to promote small towns along Route 66 in mid-Oklahoma

The new MidPoint Corridor Route 66 Association, with the blessing of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, is seeking to tout about a dozen small towns along Route 66 in between Tulsa and Oklahoma City before the highway's centennial in 2026. The Oklahoman newspaper a few days ago published a front-page story about the new association, … Continue reading Organization aims to promote small towns along Route 66 in mid-Oklahoma