Touch Media has released the seventh edition of the blue Mother Road Route 66 Passport, continuing a tradition that began in 2018. The new edition features updated content and new destinations for travelers to discover during the Route 66 centennial celebrations.
Created as a long-term project that encourages travelers to explore communities along the Mother Road, the blue passport combines the fun of collecting stamps with experiences at select locations. The seventh edition is the most refined version to date, featuring 47 stamp locations distributed more evenly across all eight Route 66 states than ever before.
“We are especially excited that, for the first time, Blue Passport holders can collect their first official Route 66 Passport stamp in Chicago,” said Marian Pavel, CEO of Touch Media. “With the new Route 66 Begin Point at Navy Pier, we have welcomed Harry Caray’s as our newest Chicago partner. We select our partners very carefully to ensure that the National Route 66 Passport delivers real value and memorable experiences to travelers.”
New locations have been added in nearly every Route 66 state. According to Pavel, the passport is not intended to be a race for stamps.
“The Blue Passport is designed to enhance the joy of travel. Rather than simply collecting stamps, travelers are guided to places where they can learn about local history, discover unique attractions, support small businesses and experience the authentic character of Route 66 communities,” he said.
The new edition maintains the quality that travelers have come to expect. It features a durable dark-blue, leather-textured cover with enhanced abrasion resistance.
For the centennial year, passport holders will enjoy a special addition: an exclusive gold foil imprint on the personal information page. Printed on premium-quality paper, the passport offers vibrant color reproduction and premium print quality.
In addition, passport holders receive discounts, gifts, or special offers from participating partners, providing benefits that often exceed the value of the passport itself.
The Blue Passport is complemented by the golden centennial passport during centennial celebrations, creating a unique collector’s set.
“Because these are two distinct Passports, they create the ultimate collector’s set for Route 66 enthusiasts,” said Jan Švrček, Touch Media’s operations director. “We will soon introduce a special bundle package featuring both Passports in an attractive sleeve.”
Touch Media is also preparing a limited collector’s edition featuring every blue passport released since 2018, along with the golden centennial passport.
“For dedicated collectors, we are creating an exclusive presentation box containing all seven editions of the Blue Passport plus the golden centennial passport,” Švrček said. “Availability will be limited by the number of passports salvaged after the devastating warehouse fire that affected our inventory in 2022.”
Both the passport bundle and the collector’s edition are scheduled for release at the end of June.
The new blue passport is already available through more than a dozen Route 66 partners, with additional retail locations added daily.
More information about both the blue passport and the golden centennial passport, including a complete list of retail locations, is available at route66passport.com.
Touch Media is also the creator of the Route 66 Navigation app.
(Image of the blue Route 66 Passport courtesy of Touch Media)