An epic celebration of the Mother Road. That would be an apt descriptors for a Route 66 centennial anthology arriving in book stores fall 2025.
The countdown to the Route 66 centennial continues—and we’re proud to share a special announcement. This fall, Quarto Publishing will release a very special Route 66 centennial anthology. This will be a richly illustrated, deeply personal, and thoroughly researched tribute to the most famous highway in America.
This is not just another road book. It’s the story of America in the 20th century written in asphalt by six devoted preservationists, historians, writers, and storytellers whose lives have been shaped by Route 66. It’s also the 23rd published work by our very own Jim Hinckley.
That is a fitting Route 66 centennial mielstone to celebrate a lifelong journey powered by a passion for America’s roadways, communities, and colorful past, and the stories of the people that write each chapter.
Let’s take a moment to introduce the cast of contributors who make this anthology such a landmark project.
Jim Hinckley – Storyteller of the Mother Road
From learning to ride a bike along the pre-1952 alignment near Kingman to inspiring road trips across the country, Jim’s connection to Route 66 is lifelong. He’s authored The Route 66 Encyclopedia, contributed hundreds of feature articles, and built a multifaceted platform—Jim Hinckley’s America—to share the magic of the open road. Whether through his books, the Coffee With Jim podcast, or live presentations, Jim’s mission remains the same: telling people where to go, sharing America’s story, and sharing the adventure.
🔗 Jim Hinckley’s America Website
📘 Facebook Page
Cheryl Eichar Jett – The Historian with a Heart for the Highway
A gifted author, historian, playwright, and speaker, Cheryl Eichar Jett has penned several books for Arcadia Publishing and hundreds of articles for regional and national publications. She holds a master’s degree in history and has spent nearly a decade documenting the unsung stories of women along Route 66. She is also the founder of the Miles of Possibility Conference, a dynamic gathering about the business of Route 66 held annually in Illinois.
🔗 Cheryl’s Facebook Page
🔗 Miles of Possibility Conference
Dries Bessels – The Dutchman with a Passion for the Mother Road
Based in Westzaan, Netherlands, Dries Bessels brings an international perspective to Route 66 preservation, and to this anthology. A former IT architect, Route 66 tour guide, and woodworking enthusiast, he’s walked the walk (and driven the drive) across the Mother Road more than a dozen times. Dries is a founding member of the Dutch Route 66 Association, wrote a Route 66 travel guide in Dutch, and is a consultant for the Route 66 Navigation app and Mother Road Passport project. He and his wife Marion are enshrined the Route 66 Walk of Fame in Kingman, Arizona
🔗 Route 66 Navigation App
🔗 Dries Bessels (Facebook)
Rhys Martin – The Lens of Preservation
Tulsa-based author and photographer Rhys Martin first explored Route 66 through the viewfinder of his camera. What followed was a deep commitment to historical preservation and advocacy. Today, he serves as President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and plays a vital role in the National Trust’s Historic Preservation Route 66 Initiative. His stunning travel photography is showcased under the name Cloudless Lens.
🔗 Cloudless Lens Photography
🔗 Oklahoma Route 66 Association
🔗 Rhys Martin Facebook
Joe Sonderman – The Voice of St. Louis History
A beloved radio personality and traffic reporter in St. Louis, Joe Sonderman is also one of the nation’s foremost Route 66 historians. With more than a dozen books under his belt, including a title for each of the eight Route 66 states, Joe’s expertise is unmatched. He curates an incredible archive of historic postcards at 66postcards.com and serves as editor of Show Me 66, the quarterly magazine of the Route 66 Association of Missouri.
🔗 66 Postcards Archive
🔗 Route 66 Association of Missouri
🔗 Joe Sonderman Facebook
Gregory R.C. Hasman – Chronicler of the Open Road
Greg Hasman is a journalist with a traveler’s soul. A native of Brooklyn now based in New Mexico, he writes for the Albuquerque Journal and contributes to ROUTE and New Mexico magazines. He’s logged miles through over 40 states, but it’s Route 66 that holds a special place in his heart—particularly the wide skies and quiet towns of the Southwest and Texas Panhandle.
🔗 Gregory R.C. Hasman on Facebook
🔗 Albuquerque Journal
A Centennial Tribute Worthy of the Road It Celebrates
The Route 66 Centennial Anthology is more than a book—it’s a bridge. One foot in the past, honoring the rich heritage of a road that built a nation, and one foot stepping boldly toward the next hundred years of adventure, preservation, and community building. With stories that span decades and voices that reflect a world of experiences, this anthology is a must-have for every Route 66 enthusiast, history buff, or dreamer with wanderlust.
Watch for the release in Fall 2025. Stay tuned for pre-order announcements, exclusive interviews, and book tour events through Jim Hinckley’s America.
And remember folks—“Adventure is just a click away!”
Thank you. Shared adventures are the best adventures.