Route 66 Centennial: 1926-2026
In 2026, the nation will be celebrating the Route 66 Centennial ... the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road serving the traveling public!
We are highlighting on this page resources and news related to the Route 66 Centennial and the 100th Anniversary of the Mother Road. Also, we have published a list of Route 66 Centennial Events in 2026.
Route 66 was one of the United States' first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west. "The Mother Road" was commissioned on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles (3,940 km) from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Many states and organizations are planning special events and tours to highlight the Centennial.
In addition, the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in 2020. The Act creates a commission, with representatives from each of the eight Route 66 states, to recommend activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary in 2026. Read more at the Official Route 66 Centennial Commission website.
|
News of Interest Related to the Route 66 Centennial |
A Tall Order: 66-Foot Dinosaur to Loom Over Route 66 in Tulsa's Howard Park
NewsOn6 - 09/09/2025 |
Eagle Rider Announces Route 66 Centennial Tour
Eagle Rider - 09/03/2025 |
Oklahoma Route 66 Association launches 'Flat Will' leading up to Route 66 Centennial
OKC Fox25 - Oklahoma City, OK - 08/27/2025 |
Official Centennial Archway over Route 66 at Galena
KOAM NewsNow - Joplin, MO - 08/25/2025 |
Travelers prepare: 2026 will be the year to get your kicks on Route 66 during 100th anniversary
New Mexico Public Radio - 08/22/2025
|
Tulsa businesses gear up for Route 66 centennial with city grants for neon signs and more
KTUL - Tulsa, OK - 07/29/2025
|
Signs to greet tourists in Yukon for Route 66 Centennial
Yukon Progress News, OK - 07/09/2025 |
Historic Route 66 Associations gearing up for 2026 centennial
KFDA - Amarillo, TX - 07/03/2025 |
Yukon, El Reno prep for Route 66 centennial
Yukon Progress News - 07/01/2025 |
Five Communities have been Designated Official Satellite City Status for the Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway - 06/25/2025 |
Springfield, Missouri prepares for the Centennial Celebration of Route 66
KY3 - Springfield, MO - 06/12/2025 |
Kansas Historic Route 66 Association Releases Route 66 Centennial Collector Coin
Galena Sentinel-Times - 05/22/2025
|
Grants, New Mexico Launches Official Route 66 Centennial Website
Cibola Citizen - 05/21/2025
|
Route 66 birthplace to kick off Mother Road Centennial Celebration
TravelMole - 05/09/2025
|
Amarillo gears up for 2025 Texas Route 66 Festival as centennial plans take shape
ABC7 News - Amarillo, TX - 05/08/2025
|
US Route 66 Centennial website launches
WRIC - ABC8 News - 05/05/2025
|
Rainbow Bridge on Route 66 revamped for centennial events
KSN16 Four States Homepage - 05/03/2025
|
Springfield Missouri named host city for national Route 66 Centennial Kickoff
PR Newswire - 04/28/2025
|
Summit promotes interstate collaboration for Route 66 Centennial
Albuquerque Journal - 04/27/2025
|
Oklahoma unveils new state map dedicated to Route 66 centennial
KOCO - Oklahoma City, OK - 02/24/2025 |
Albuquerque officials provide update on 2026 Route 66 centennial celebration
KRQE - Albuquerque, NM - 02/18/2025 |
‘Symbol of American freedom’: Resolution filed to celebrate a century of Route 66 next year
WCIA - Illinois - 02/03/2025 |
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces Statewide Conference & Epic Route 66 Centennial Celebration November 2026
Springfield Herald - 01/08/2025
|
Route 66 Centennial Monument Project debuts in Claremore on the 98th anniversary of the Mother Road
Fox23 - Tulsa - 11/11/2024 |
Historic Bridge Revitalization to Increase Visitor Traffic for Route 66 Centennial
Oklahoma Department of Commerce - 10/07/2024 |
Oklahoma Takes the Lead in Centennial Preparations with Bold New Route 66 Grant Awards
Oklahoma Department of Commerce - 04/26/2024
|
Oklahoma Kicks Off Route 66 Centennial Celebrations
PR NewsWire - 06/14/2024 |
Route 66 Centennial: Flagstaff gears up to celebrate the highway's 100-year anniversary
Arizona Daily Sun - 04/27/2024 |
A Big Anniversary Appears in the Headlights for Route 66
Leisure Group Travel - 03/20/2024 |
Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission planning The Mother Road’s 100th birthday
Four States Home Page - 03/11/2024 |
Eight new musical roads along U.S Route 66 proposed for 100 year celebraton in 2026
PRWeb - 02/22/2024
|
U.S. Route 66 Centennial ommission accepting ideas for anniversary celebration
WJBC Bloomington, IL - 02/15/2024 |
Heritage Corridor Destinations Gets Ready For Route 66 Centennial
The Times Weekly - 02/14/2024 |
$3.3 Million in Grant Funding for Projects Along the Historic Route 66
ABC NewsChannel 7 - 02/07/2024 |
National Trust for Historic Preservation launches Preserve Route 66: Share Your Story campaign
KFDA News Channel 10 Amarillo - 01/18/2024 |
Tourism boom looms on the horizon for Route 66 Centennial
Four States Home Page - 10/27/2023 |
New Mexico prepares for Route 66 centennial — but which route will be celebrated?
Santa Fe New Mexican - 10/24/2023 |
Tulsa's Red Fork District being restored ahead of Route 66 Centennial Celebration
News on 6 - Tulsa, OK - 10/23/2023 |
Edmond joins group paving the way to Route 66's Centennial Celebration in 2026
City of Edmond, OK - 10/16/2023 |
MidPoint Corridor Association Paves the Way to Route 66 Centennial in 2026- The Greatest 100 Miles of Oklahoma Route 66
Kalkine Media - 09/28/2023 |
Governors invited to join consortium for Route 66 centennial planning
Quay County Sun - 06/20/2023
|
Route 66, America’s 'Mother Road,' readies for its centennial
Tucson Sentinel - 06/10/2023 |
Preparing for the centennial of Route 66
Illinois Times - 06/08/2023 |
Route 66 Commission Offering Grants to Help Businesses Prepare for Centennial Celebration
News 9 - Oklahoma City - 04/17/2023 |
Route 66 turns 100 in 2026
FOX23 News Tulsa - 02/16/2023 |
Texas Is Getting Ready to Celebrate 100 Years of Route 66
MIX94.1 Amarillo - 01/11/2023 |
Members of Route 66 Centennial Commission Announced
The White House - 12/28/2022
|
Springfield named centennial host city for the 11th Annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference
WAND Central Illinois - 10/25/2022 |
Missouri Historical Society preps for Route 66’s Centennial
KOAM News - 09/21/2022
|
Route 66 100th anniversary will be a tremendous opportunity to welcome and entertain guests
Sangamon Sun - 08/01/2022 |
Joliet makes plans for Route 66 centennial in 2026
Shaw Local - 07/31/2022 |
Route 66 Centennial Planning Begins in Oklahoma
Fox23 Tulsa - 05/10/2022 |
Upcoming Route 66 centennial to celebrate best of the Mother Road
Oklahoma.gov - 03/24/2022 |
Route 66 to be showcased during Illinois State Museum’s 2026 exhibit on highway’s 100th anniversary
Chicago Tribune - 12/31/2021 |
Albuquerque city council planning Route 66 centennial celebration
KRQE Albuquerque - 05/20/2021 |
Route 66 Centennial Website
This website presents a wide variety of Official Route 66 Centennial Programs, Events, Projects, and Activities recommended by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.
Springfield, Missouri has been selected as the Official Host City of the Route 66 Centennial National Kick-Off, which will anchor locations across Route 66, providing an unprecendented special event to commence the Route 66 Centennial scheduled for April 30, 2026.
Route 66 Centennial website at www.Route66Centennial.org
and Route 66 Centennial on Facebook
|
Route 66 Centennial Monuments
The Route 66 Centennial Monument Project is offically recommended by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. Standing 16' in height, the monuments are double-sided with raised lettering and internally lit with LED lighting. Every monument features a unique QR code that links to its own dedicated webpage, showcasing rich historical insights and stunning monument photos.
Shown below are some of the early monuments along Route 66.
For more information and photos, visit www.Route66Monuments.com |
Route 66 Centennial monument
J.M. Davis Museum
Claremore, Oklahoma
 |
Route 66 Centennial monument
Petree Plaza
El Reno, Oklahoma
 |
Threatt Station Centennial monument, Luther, Oklahoma
 |
Our Relationship with Route 66
We love America, and travel to the many exciting places and destinations that the country offers. We also enjoy being out on the open roads of America, like cross-country trips on Route 66, The Mother Road.
We have driven Route 66 in all eight states which the historic road traversed, and have accumulated a significant archive of photos and travel experiences.
There have seen fun days in Catoosa, Cuba, Glenrio, Gallup, Oatman, Pontiac, Barstow, Tucumcari and Seligman. We remember those road trips to Holbrook, Winslow, Amboy, Joplin, Shamrock, Elk City, Galena and Springfield ... and so many more!
As we look forward to the Centennial in 2026, we are grabbing a cup of coffee and heading back out for another Historic Route 66 road trip in 2025!
Road Trip Travel Guides for States on Route 66
Planning a road trip on Route 66? Here are the travel guides and reviews by state ...
|
