2026 marks the Centennial celebration of the Mother Road
Hit the road this year for a once-in-a-100-year trip and explore and discover all the exciting events and activities that will celebrate the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary. There will be many projects and programs to participate in that will be commemorating the Mother Road. Many activities will be focused on preservation, tourism, research and education and the economic development of Route 66.
Beginning back in the 1920s the federal government first mandated construction of a national highway system. The original push for 2,248 miles of paved road between Chicago and Los Angeles was the brainchild of two forward-looking entrepreneurs. Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma and John T. Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri who also proposed naming the new road “U.S. 66”.
Route 66 across Missouri features a variety of large cites and small towns, connected by rolling hills and valley. The Mother Road follows much of the Kickapoo, or Osage Trail, which later became known as the Old Wire Road. I-44 eventually replaced Route 66 and overpaving was common in some sections.
There are many featured events and programs throughout 2026 to celebrate the “Mother Road” and a complete list of activities by state can be found on the website, https://route66centennial.org
Springfield, Missouri has been selected as the Official Host City of the Route 66 Centennial National Kick Off, April 30-May 3, which will anchor locations across Route 66, providing an unprecedented special event to commence the Route 66 Centennial. All events during this weekend will be in and around the downtown area of Springfield which is the Birthplace of Route 66.
Beginning with NBC’s Today Show on Thursday, April 30th at 8am, The Today Show will broadcast its nationally televised “3rd Hour” live to align with the 100th anniversary of Route 66. There will be live concerts, car shows, landmark dedications, art & history displays and more.
A full list of activities can be found at https://route66kickoff.com
Many towns along Route 66 will be having year-long celebrations and some will celebrate with just weekend events. The city of Miami, Ok. will be planning many events and kicked off the year with a New Year Eve Ball drop. In July they will celebrate their heritage and USA 250 during Heritage Fest. One of the best ways to learn more about the history of Route 66 is at the Dobson Museum & Home and Downtown Miami Main Street which is part of the original Route 66 and Miami’s Gateway Arch.
One of our Freelance journalists, Amanda Maphies, recently traveled to Sapulpa, Ok which is along Route 66 and has this to say about some of the local places of interest:
“The Route 66 Vintage Market, at 105 E. Dewey Ave., is perfect if you have several hours to browse, collect, and get lost in yester-year. This flea market is huge and well worth the time spent and loss of money no-doubt traded for the unique treasures begging for a new owner.”
“Tee Pee Drive-In, open from late spring to late fall, is one of the few remaining drive-in movie theaters in the world. Tee Pee is special because the owner, with a fascination for old-school Silver Bullet Airstream campers, has already converted a few, which sit on the grounds at the drive-in and can be rented per night as a VRBO or Airbnb.”
“While there is much more to see in Sapulpa than the one day of travel I had allotted, the final stop on our short tour was to the famed Burger Dynasty. A definite must stop if you are a fan of greasy homemade burgers and not- your-typical sides while visiting historic Sapulpa, Oklahoma.” Amannda concluded.
Just down the road from the Teepee, the Rock Creek Bridge Park, which opens April 10th, honors the history of the Mother Road creating a place for the community to gather and explore, enjoy scenic views and is the perfect stop when you are on that Routh 66 adventure.
Catoosa, Ok is home to the infamous “Blue Whale” and is a beloved historic landmark along Route 66. Plans are underway for Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, May 30th which will include a RT 66 Blue Whale Run, crafts and vendors, a ribbon cutting, live music and fireworks. The city of Catoosa web page has more information and details on the events.
Newson6.com, a news station based out of Tulsa, has a list on their webpage of the Ten Route 66 attractions to check out in Oklahoma. “From iconic roadside oddities to historic landmarks”, it is definitely a list to check into if you are looking for a fun weekend of activities this summer.
OFNs coverage area of Route 66 begins in Phelps County and continues all the way thru the very corner of Kansas and down into Tulsa. Even though the entire span of Route 66 is 2,448 miles of road linking Chicago with Santa Monica, the stretch running through our coverage area provides plenty of history, mystery and fun things to do! You don’t have to do it all but take the time this summer to check out some of the events and activities and enjoy a blast from the past vacation this year and celebrate the Mother Road and get your Kicks on Route 66!
