If you're going to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the New Mexico Department of Tourism's Visitor Center on the fiesta grounds is celebrating the Route 66 centennial with a retro gas-station installation. Marisol Lucero, Tourism Development director, reached out to the New Mexico Route 66 Alliance to create a one-of-a-kind tourism information tourism center. Alliance … Continue reading NM Route 66 Alliance sets up gas station-themed booth at Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta
Category: Route 66 Associations
“Take Your Seat on Route 66” designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project
"Take Your Seat on Route 66," an international photography and storytelling project created in collaboration with the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, has been designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. The project will bring the story of Route 66 to a global audience through a major digital … Continue reading “Take Your Seat on Route 66” designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project
Route 66 centennial road signs and flags distributed to 18 communities in northern Illinois
Heritage Corridor Destinations and the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway celebrated Route 66 communities along The First Hundred Miles of the Mother Road with new Route 66 centennial road signs and flags. The signs were distributed ahead of National Scenic Byway Day on Sept. 22. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway created the centennial signs … Continue reading Route 66 centennial road signs and flags distributed to 18 communities in northern Illinois
Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announces 14 Preservation & Economic Development grant recipients
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership recently announced it was awarding a total of 14 Preservation & Economic Development Grants worth $2,500 each in 2026. Recipients were chosen from 124 applications. Qualifying projects were reviewed by an independent review committee from across the eight Route 66 states. Eligible activities included capital improvements, historic preservation planning … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announces 14 Preservation & Economic Development grant recipients
“Great American Road Rally” to bring Route 66 stories to television while raising funds for the Mother Road
Route 66 takes center stage this month when "The Great American Road Rally," a national television event celebrating America’s iconic highway through cars, celebrities, storytelling and philanthropy, premieres on The CW Network. The series premieres today and continues through its finale, scheduled for Nov. 25, the night before Thanksgiving. Throughout the series, viewers will be … Continue reading “Great American Road Rally” to bring Route 66 stories to television while raising funds for the Mother Road
David Knudson, founder of the National Historic Route 66 Federation, dies at 86
David M. Knudson, founder of the trailblazing National Historic Route 66 Federation during the mid-1990s, died on Aug. 31 in Yucaipa, California. He was 86. Knudson's death was announced by his son on Friday. A memorial service will be on Sept. 26 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Yucaipa. His obituary states he was born … Continue reading David Knudson, founder of the National Historic Route 66 Federation, dies at 86
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway to host inaugural Mother Road Conference on 100th anniversary of highway
On Nov. 11, exactly 100 years after the commissioning of Route 66, the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway will host its inaugural Mother Road Conference at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill in Springfield. The conference will bring together Route 66 business owners, tourism professionals, preservationists, enthusiasts, elected officials and community leaders to celebrate the highway’s centennial … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway to host inaugural Mother Road Conference on 100th anniversary of highway
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway launches inaugural awards
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway is launching the inaugural Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Awards, celebrating the businesses, attractions, communities and individuals who contribute to the continued vitality and legacy of Route 66 in Illinois. With Route 66 celebrating its 100th anniversary, the new awards provide an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the people and … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway launches inaugural awards
Application window for the Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund begins today
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting applications starting today for its Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund. The grants provide financial support to public agencies, tribal governments, or nonprofit organizations to preserve and interpret historic places along the Route 66 corridor. Grants made from the Preserve Route 66 Fund will generally range from $2,500 to … Continue reading Application window for the Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund begins today
Neon sign for the defunct Ko Ko Motel in Joplin is being restored
The neon sign for the long-gone Ko Ko Motel along Route 66 in Joplin, Missouri, is being restored. The Ko Ko, built in 1955 at 3102 E. 7th St. (aka Route 66), was demolished in 2007. Jeremy Morris, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, stated on a Facebook post that the sign, after … Continue reading Neon sign for the defunct Ko Ko Motel in Joplin is being restored