Route 66 Approaches 100th Anniversary in 2026

Route 66, the legendary highway stretching 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, marks its 100th anniversary in 2026, drawing travelers to its mix of history, neon-lit diners, and quirky roadside stops across eight states.

Established in November 1926 as one of the nation's first numbered highways, Route 66 connected the industrial Midwest to the Pacific Coast, weaving together Native American trading paths and dirt roads. Oklahoma businessman Cyrus Avery, often called the Father of Route 66, championed the route as a way to link rural communities and boost commerce. He chose the number 66 for its memorable appeal, a decision that embedded the highway in American culture through books like John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," which dubbed it the Mother Road, and songs such as Bobby Troup's "Get Your Kicks on Route 66," later covered by artists including Nat King Cole and the Rolling Stones.

The road symbolized escape and opportunity for waves of migrants. In the 1930s, Dust Bowl farmers fled drought and poverty westward. During World War II, it transported troops and workers. The postwar era brought its peak popularity, with affordable cars fueling family...