The Missouri Humanities Council awarded a $25,000 grant to the Route 66 Association of Missouri in support of a project titled “The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit” and an $8,000 grant to support programs associated with the project.
“The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit” celebrates the legacy of the Mother Road and its role in shaping the cultural, economic and social history of the United States.
Anchored in Missouri, the exhibit commemorates not only the 100th anniversary of the highway but the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Through immersive experiences, oral histories, public programs and artifacts, the exhibit offers an interactive journey that connects visitors with the past and enduring spirit of the Main Street of America.
The exhibit will be available for bookings in summer 2026, with confirmed stops in Cuba, Lebanon, Pacific and the Red Oak II site in Carthage in September that year.
The Real Travel app will collaborate with the “Route 66 Centennial Interpretive Traveling Exhibit” to integrate digital elements that enhance the visitor experience and provide new ways to explore and appreciate the culture, history and heritage of the Mother Road.
The exhibit highlights Route 66 as a microcosm of American ideals — freedom, venturing and entrepreneurship. Special programming will explore how the highway reflects themes of westward expansion, civil rights and economic development, serving as a lens to view America’s growth and evolution.
The exhibit will make stops throughout the state, inviting audiences of all ages to celebrate the shared heritage of a nation on the move.
The exhibit not only honors the past but inspires appreciation for the road ahead. Rare artifacts — including vintage neon signs, postcards, gas pumps and period photographs — will be showcased, with each telling a story of innovation, entrepreneurship and the pioneering spirit that defines Route 66.
The exhibit will also feature an oral history corner, with recorded interviews from travelers, entrepreneurs and community members whose lives were touched by Route 66. Visitors can listen to stories of adventure, resilience and connection.
Additionally, lesson plans designed for children in grades 6 through 12 aims to foster a deeper understanding of the nation’s cultural and historical journey.
The traveling exhibit is part of the “Route 66: The Untold Story Project,” an Official Route 66 Centennial program, recommended by the Route 66 Centennial Commission.
To host the exhibit and for more information, contact project director Katrina Parks by email at info@assertionfilms.com. You can see sample short films and lesson plans at route66women.com. These materials were made possible with support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, Cinefemme and many state humanities councils.
For more information about the grant program of the Missouri Humanities Council, call 314-781-9660 or 800-357-0909 or email clarice@mohumanities.org.
(Image of the Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit courtesy of Katrina Parks)