The Standin’ on a Corner Park in Winslow, Ariz., which has seen all sorts of problems because fire destroyed a nearby building a couple of years ago, suffered another serious setback this week, reports the Winslow Mail.

The newspaper reported that a piece of cleanup machinery bumped and accidentally destroyed a portion of the foundation wall of the fire-gutted Rasco Building. This complicates the operation, and city officials fear the wall that adjoins the Standin’ on a Corner site could collapse.

Here’s a recent photo of the site, taken by Ace Jackalope at TheLope.com. The statue is at right, in front of a big mural on the side of the destroyed Rasco Building. Fearing for others’ safety, the statue often has been fenced off to keep visitors at a safe distance in case the wall collapses. The cleanup was supposed to help partly rectify this. Instead, it may have made the situation worse.

Standin’ on a Corner is situated on an eastbound leg of Route 66 in Winslow. It is a tribute to Jackson Browne’s famous line in the song “Take It Easy”:

Well, I’m a standin’ on a corner
In Winslow, Arizona
And such a fine sight to see
It’s a girl, my Lord,
in a flatbed Ford
slowin’ down to take a look at me

The song became a big hit for The Eagles.

Five Chicago Transit Authority bus shelters contain touch screens that publicize tourist spots throughout Illinois. One of those destinations is Route 66, reports Crain’s Chicago Business.

The idea is to inspire viewers to hit the road on the same itineraries, which can take them to the Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul, the Launching Pad Drive-Inn (sic) in Wilmington [which is on Route 66 -- ed.] or the Chaplin Creek historic village in Franklin Grove.

The virtual journeys, arriving just as the summer tourism season gets ready to kick off, are part of a new Illinois Bureau of Tourism (IBOT) campaign to encourage Chicago residents to travel throughout the state. [...]

The effort appears to be paying off: Ms. Kostner said tourism was up 16% last year. She attributed the rise to the campaign, which included posters promoting Cave-in-Rock State Park, a monument to the world’s tallest man and a 400-pound butter cow, among others.

The more on the Mother Road, the merrier.

Today, I received a press release about the opening ceremonies for the Route 66 Interpretive Center at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, on Route 66 and Mickey Clarkson Avenue in Chandler, Okla.

Here’s more information about the center:

The Interpretive Center is located in the native sandstone-block 1930s-era building on the prominent crossroads in Chandler. After over 10 years of fundraising and hard work by dedicated community volunteers, the grand opening of the Interpretive Center and gift shop represents the first-phase completion of renovation on this historic building.

The Interpretive Center takes the participant through a visually entertaining “drive” from the 1920s through current day on our Mother Road, aka Route 66. Experience the bleak dust-bowl years from the seats of a Model A, the booming ’40s & ’50s from the seat of a ‘48 Willy’s Jeep and the happy days of the ’60s and on from authentic ‘65 Mustang seats. Track the “route” through eight states on bill boards reminiscent of the kind seen by travelers back when Route 66 was THE road. Experience the unique lodging enjoyed by early travelers in your own virtual hotel room with themes like “Vanished Icons” and “Neon Nights.” After your trip, stop by the gift and book shop to browse and buy items selected to reflect the Southwestern U.S. and Route 66.

Gov. Brad Henry has been invited to speak. Lt. Gov. Jari Askins is one of the confirmed speakers.

And here’s the Interpretive Center’s Web site. It’s under construction, but an upgrade is promised. The phone number is (405) 258-0008.

There’s a railroad depot in the Route 66 town of Braidwood, Ill., that dates to at least 1867. It’s speculated that the train that carried the body of Abraham Lincoln went by on its way to Lincoln’s burial in Springfield.

The city of Braidwood has taken over ownership of the depot from Berkot’s Foods with the stipulation that it be moved, reports the Joliet Herald-News.

Bill Rulien, president of the Braidwood Chamber of Commerce, said he feels the building should get a new home along Historic Route 66.

“It would be more of a benefit to the city to have it there,” Rulien said.

No final decision on a site has been made. The city is now searching for grants to cover the cost of moving the building.

Here’s a vintage photo of the depot that I found (it’s the first photo on the page).

UPDATE: A reader has pointed out a more up-to-date photo here.

The 20th annual Arizona Route 66 Fun Run takes place this weekend in western Arizona. The Kingman Daily Miner has a preview story, along with some history about the Mother Road.