Webb City center to highlight Route 66 heritage

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Webb City Mayor John Biggs paints a Route 66 mural Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Detail work on the Route 66 mural being created by Webb City Mayor John Biggs as seen Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Details of a Route 66 mural being painted by Webb City Mayor John Biggs as seen Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Webb City Mayor John Biggs paints a Route 66 mural Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Details of a Route 66 mural being painted by Webb City Mayor John Biggs as seen Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
A preliminary painting created by Webb City Mayor John Biggs rests next to a selection of paints as he creates a larger Route 66 mural Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Webb City Mayor John Biggs paints a Route 66 mural Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Webb City Mayor John Biggs stirs paint for a Route 66 mural Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Webb City Mayor John Biggs mixes paint for a Route 66 mural Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Webb City Mayor John Biggs holds up a photo of a historical Route 66 sign that he plans to paint onto a bridge in his Route 66 mural Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
A detail of a Route 66 mural being painted by Webb City Mayor John Biggs as seen Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 22, 2010, in Webb City. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Stacy Jennings took a series of photos of her father's progress on the mural in the Route 66 Center in Webb City. Courtesy/Stacy Jennings
Stacy Jennings took a series of photos of her father's progress on the mural in the Route 66 Center in Webb City. Courtesy/Stacy Jennings
Stacy Jennings took a series of photos of her father's progress on the mural in the Route 66 Center in Webb City. Courtesy/Stacy Jennings
Stacy Jennings took a series of photos of her father's progress on the mural in the Route 66 Center in Webb City. Courtesy/Stacy Jennings
Stacy Jennings took a series of photos of her father's progress on the mural in the Route 66 Center in Webb City. Courtesy/Stacy Jennings
Stacy Jennings took a series of photos of her father's progress on the mural in the Route 66 Center in Webb City. Courtesy/Stacy Jennings

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September 22, 2010

By Emily Younker Globe Staff Writer The Joplin Globe Wed Sep 22, 2010, 04:49 PM CDT

WEBB CITY, Mo. — The city’s new Route 66 Center is quickly taking shape.

It even had its first official visitors this week — tourists from London who were traveling the famous highway from Los Angeles to Chicago, said Chuck Surface, director of economic development.

The center, housed in a former gas station one block west of Main Street on Broadway, is expected to open by Oct. 1. It will hold offices for a downtown manager and the Chamber of Commerce; a retail shop of Route 66 and Webb City merchandise; and a display room and meeting space.

“Route 66 is an item for us for tourism that we have had for years and never took advantage of,” Surface said. “We’re just lucky we have it run right through the middle of town.”

The focal point of the Route 66 Center will be a mural by Mayor John Biggs. Measuring 8 feet tall and 16 feet wide, the painting will depict 1940s travelers along a portion of Route 66 that is located near Lakeside Park between Carterville and Carthage, Biggs said.

And don’t be surprised if the vehicle in the foreground of the mural contains a famous face or two — Biggs is considering putting cowboy Will Rogers in one of the seats.

City officials also plan to develop the city’s east entrance into a Route 66 park and welcome center. Surface said he hopes to start work on that project next spring.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Joplin Globe or register for our E-Edition here at joplinglobe.com.

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Webb City center to highlight Route 66 heritage

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