Bob’s Gasoline Alley collection near Cuba will go up for auction in mid-July

The collection of memorabilia at Bob's Gasoline Alley near Cuba, Missouri, will be auctioned July 15 after the proprietor died earlier this spring. Aumann Auctions of Nokomis, Illinois, is conducting the event at the Bob's Gasoline Alley site at 822 Beamer Lane west of Cuba, sandwiched between old Route 66 and Interstate 44. The date … Continue reading Bob’s Gasoline Alley collection near Cuba will go up for auction in mid-July

Tucumcari commissioners reject landmark ordinance for historic neon signs

The Tucumcari City Commission last week by a 3-2 vote rejected a landmark ordinance that would have added a layer of protection for historic neon signs -- a sign of how property rights make such proposals a tough sell. One of the commissioners who rejected the plan, Todd Duplantis, owns two Route 66 restaurants in … Continue reading Tucumcari commissioners reject landmark ordinance for historic neon signs

Tulsa adding 29 historical markers along Route 66

Tulsa will erect a total of 29 historical markers along Route 66 in the next few weeks, continuing that city's embrace of its Mother Road heritage. The markers first were envisioned back in 2005 as part of the original Vision 2025 sales tax for Route 66 projects. The markers will cost $111,000, which included about … Continue reading Tulsa adding 29 historical markers along Route 66

Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa raising money for a new neon sign

Mary Beth Babcock, owner of Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on Route 66, is crowdfunding an effort to build a new neon sign at her Tulsa gift shop. Babcock aims to raise $10,000 through a GoFundMe.com campaign that launched about three days ago. As of Tuesday night, she'd raised more than $1,000. She wrote on Facebook … Continue reading Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa raising money for a new neon sign

Another Route 66 sign disappears from Grants

I received word Friday from a reader that another sign from a long-defunct Route 66 motel was taken down and hauled away. Here's the email I received from Keith Kofford: Grants lost another Route 66 sign last week (9-10-19) when the Los Alamitos Motel sign was taken. A crew with large equipment was spotted by … Continue reading Another Route 66 sign disappears from Grants

Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal

The president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association reported parts of the neon sign for the Brookshire Motel in Tulsa were sold off piecemeal to a local collector, and the rest likely will be gone soon. The Brookshire Motel neon sign in 2005 Rhys Martin on late Sunday passed along on Facebook the news he … Continue reading Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal

A closer look at the new neon coming for Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa

With the recent story about the restoration and relighting of the neon sign for Billy Ray's BBQ and Catfish in Tulsa, the local newspaper mentioned Tally's Good Food Cafe also had received a grant for new neon on the Route 66 restaurant. Intrigued, I contacted Dennis Whitaker, a planner for the Indian Nations Council of … Continue reading A closer look at the new neon coming for Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa

Tulsa adding Route 66 stencils on pavement

The city of Tulsa last week began painting Route 66 shields on the pavement of the Mother Road on the east and west sides of town. The Tulsa Route 66 Commission stated on its Facebook page it wants to place the shields along regular intervals on the entire stretch of Tulsa's Route 66. The shields … Continue reading Tulsa adding Route 66 stencils on pavement

New Route 66 signs unveiled in Amarillo

State and local officials on Wednesday unveiled a series of new Route 66 signs in Amarillo, Texas, after the state legislature passed a bill that designated Route 66 as an official historic corridor. The Amarillo Pioneer reported: The ceremony, which took place across the street from the OPJ antique store, featured Senator Kel Seliger, Representative … Continue reading New Route 66 signs unveiled in Amarillo

Book review: “Route 66 Roadside Signs and Advertisements”

"Route 66 Roadside Signs and Advertisements" leaves little doubt it exists primarily as an image-driven book. After all, you have to show all these neon signs, banners and billboards that made an indelible impression on generations of Route 66 travelers and contributed to the road's colorful history. The book contains hundreds of photographs by Route 66 … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 Roadside Signs and Advertisements”