“The Mother Road: Revisiting Route 66,” a new podcast exploring the past, present and future of U.S. 66, has been designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project in recognition of its contribution to commemorating the highway’s 100th anniversary in 2026 and beyond.
Spanning 2,448 miles from Illinois to California, Route 66 has been part of American history and culture since its establishment in 1926.
Although officially decommissioned in 1985, its legacy continues as travelers journey the road in search of nostalgia, discovery, connection and new memories.
“The Mother Road: Revisiting Route 66” will tell stories behind the highway — from its earliest days to its role in contemporary America and its potential future.
The podcast will explore the people, places, music, food, struggles, dreams and experiences that have shaped Route 66 over the past century.
Through an anticipated 12 episodes, “The Mother Road: Revisiting Route 66” will revisit and rediscover the highway through the people who have experienced it, communities that continue to live along it and those working to preserve its legacy.
The project will explore questions at the heart of the Route 66 experience: Where were people going? What did they hope to find? What was their reality then, and what is it now? And what hopes do communities along the Mother Road have for the future?
Podcast creator Kyle F. Reinson, a former journalism professor who was a visiting lecturer at Cornell University, has assembled a team of journalists, artists and musicians to bring the project to a wide audience.
“This podcast belongs to all of us,” Reinson said. “That is why we are seeking content ideas, sponsors and donations from everyone to take this anniversary forward.”
Reinson said the artists, musicians, and journalists who will contribute include filmmaker John Paget, journalists Mike Weatherford and Jessica Burbank, and musician Jared Kolesar.
“This road and this story deserve a living and loving tribute,” Reinson saud. “And when people listen, they will be invited to be on the road once again, and to recall that the dream of something better must never die.”
As an Official Route 66 Centennial Project, “The Mother Road: Revisiting Route 66” joins initiatives across the eight Route 66 states commemorating the centennial and helping ensure its legacy continues for generations to come.
Bill Thomas, chairman of The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and commissioner for the Route 66 Centennial Commission, said, “The Route 66 Centennial is an opportunity not simply to look backward, but to understand why this road continues to matter and what its future can be.
“The Mother Road: Revisiting Route 66 reflects the spirit of the Centennial by bringing forward the stories and experiences that make Route 66 more than a historic highway. It is a living cultural landscape that continues to connect people, communities and generations.”
More about the podcast can be found here.
(Image from the Facebook page of “The Mother Road: Revisiting Route 66″ podcast)