Historic Red Cedar Inn on Route 66 in Pacific
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"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Starting in Chicago, westbound travelers traversed a series of towns in Illinois before arriving in St. Louis.
Route 66 across Missouri stretched 317 miles and connected a variety of large cities and small towns, traversing rolling hills and valleys.
The Mother Road followed much of the Kickapoo, or Osage, Trail, an Indian trail that later became the Old Wire Road. Like other Route 66 segments, the actual alignment varied over the years as engineering improvements were constructed.
We've driven much of Route 66, including multiple segments across Missouri, and visits to Pacific.
About Pacific Missouri
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The City of Pacific, Missouri is located in Franklin and St. Louis Counties, about 30 miles southwest of St. Louis. Pacific, known as "Train Town USA", is located along Historic Route 66, also called Osage Street. Interstate 44 cuts through the northern part of the city, home to more than 7,000 residents.
U.S. Route 66 66 arrived in Pacific in 1932. The city soon developed a number of businesses to cater to the new traffic and travelers through town.
Today, Pacific has many attractions with Route 66 running through the heart of the community, including the Red Cedar Inn and Campbell's Service Route 66 Museum. It is an easy drive to the east to downtown Saint Louis and the metropolitan area, and the gateway to the Ozarks to the southwest via Interstate Highway 44 or Historic Route 66.
Map showing the approximate location of Pacific between St. Louis and Cuba on Route 66 in Missouri
Red Cedar Inn: Pacific Visitor Center and MuseumOne of the first businesses to open in Pacific was the Red Cedar Inn, which continues to stand today. The Inn was built by James and Bill Smith in 1934 with wood logs from the family farm, and filled with chinking to reflect earlier pioneer days and to attract guests. Famous for its fried chicken and other popular dishes, it was closed in 2005. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, the City of Pacific purchased the building and has developed it as a new Visitor Center and Museum, opened in August of 2023. See the photos below showing the Route 66 "Get Your Kicks" sign outside of the Red Cedar Inn, and the new Visitor Center. The museum's exhibits detail Route 66 history, local Pacific area history, and the history of the Red Cedar Inn. The carefully restored wood flooring, restaurant booths, maps and other artifacts bring those earlier days of Missouri to life. It also features an area devoted to kids, with a huge sandbox, interactive toys, and a large wall with animation. Children can color a picture, put it on the scanner, then the picture they draw shows up and moves around with the characters on wall animation! Best of all, it's FREE! There is also a well stocked gift shop that has everything from Route 66 t-shirts and hats, to hard to find old time candy. Oh, and CLEAN bathrooms! It is located at 1047 East Osage Street in Pacific. Phone 636.271.0500 Ext. 222 Read more about the Red Cedar Inn at the City of Pacific Tourism website |
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Interactive Map of Pacific, Missouri
More Resources about Pacific and Missouri |
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