Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit - updated 1/26/26

Photo credits top banner: “Sunset at El Don Motel” and “A Historical Marker Evoking Route 66”, 2014, courtesy of Donatella Davanzo.

Celebrating the rich legacy of the Mother Road, this traveling pop-up exhibit marks two milestones: 100 years of Route 66 and 250 years of the United States. The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit invites visitors to explore the enduring spirit of America’s Main Street, a road that has drawn travelers from around the world and holds countless stories waiting to be uncovered.

For nearly a century, Route 66 has carried travelers across the heart of the country, connecting eight states, hundreds of communities, and millions of personal memories. From the glow of neon signs to the rhythm of tires on open pavement, every mile reflects the search for opportunity, creativity, and freedom. This exhibit traces the ways Route 66 has shaped American history, culture, and identity while highlighting Missouri’s central place along the route.

The exhibit will launch with a mini event (only a few panels) at the State Capitol in Jefferson City on February 3 organized by Missouri Humanities for legislators. After this event, the exhibit will continue on to the Lebanon-LaClede County Library (February 5 and 6).

The exhibit will then join the Centennial Kick Off in Springfield, at the Gillioz Theatre (April 30-May 2). After which the exhibit will travel to Cuba City starting on May 3 and stay there throughout the summer. In the Fall, the exhibit will go to Pacific (September 16-17) before heading to Red Oak II (September 18-20).

The exhibit will offer visitors photographs, stories, and interpretive content drawn from archives, museums, and Route 66 partners. 

Many thanks to the organizations whose support is helping bring this exhibit to life!  To learn more about the centennial in Missouri, please connect with the Missouri Centennial Commission on the Website or on Facebook.

Photo content credits: Dorothy McCoy Miller, Devil’s Elbow, Missouri. Courtesy of Sue Ann (Miller) Dunn. U.S. 66 Highway Association, The Main Street of America. Courtesy of Joe Sonderman. Crown Candy, St. Louis, Missouri, 2025. Courtesy of Assertion Films. U.S. 66 Route, Affiliated with AAA, Separate Roadways, 1930, courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis. https://mohistory.org/collections/item/GRA00033.