Paving the way to a bicentennial centennial begins with the development of Route 66 centennial projects. The success of these endeavors ensures that this iconic old highway remains relevant for another one hundred years.
The world’s most famous highway is turning 100. Yes, it will be an epic celebration of the storied highway’s past. But make no mistake, this is also a celebration of its future.
From Chicago to Santa Monica, the Route 66 Centennial is sparking a new wave of creativity, innovation, and dynamic community-driven tourism that could very well guarantee we’ll be celebrating its bicentennial in 2126 with just as much excitement.
Today, Route 66 is more than a highway. It’s a living, breathing story of America. And as with the country the highway crosses, is is constantly evolving while staying rooted in the culture, the people, and the places that make it legendary. And thanks to forward-thinking visionaries, Main Street champions, and folks like you, the centennial isn’t just a milestone, it’s the kick off for another one hundred years as the Main Street of America.
Coffee With Jim: Music, Memory & Motion
On the June 15, 2025 episode of “Coffee With Jim” (an official Route 66 centennial program), we took a deep dive into one of the top ten most innovative—and downright whimsical—projects developed to celebrate the Route 66 centennial: the Route 66 Musical Roads. Inspired by a concept with roots stretching back to the 19th century, this idea was given the modern spark by none other than Walt Disney himself.
In this episode, we talked with Chris Hill and Pete Thompson, the creative minds behind the Route 66 Musical Roads project. Their brainchild tested near Tijeras, New Mexico in October 2024 plays a portion of America the Beautiful when driven over at just the right speed.
Now officially recognized by the Route 66 Centennial Commission, these melodic byways are being planned for each state in the Route 66 corridor. This will add a unique sensory-rich experience to the classic American road trip along legendary Route 66. It will be interactive. It’s unexpected. It’s unforgettable. It’s also one heck of an audio selfie stop.
And let’s face it, a musical road could be used as a metaphor for Route 66 itself. It is part history, part harmony, part heartbeat.
Thinking Beyond the Roadside: A New Route 66 Tourism Economy
The Centennial has ignited a tourism renaissance, and not just on Route 66. But we’re not just talking about kitschy motels and neon signs, though we enjoy finding them on our roadtrips. Communities are embracing new trends like eco-tourism, experiential travel, and even “noctourism.” The latter is a new trend, nighttime travel experiences that add after-hours magic to the Route 66 journey. Think dark sky experience or neon lit walking tours.
Take Kingman Tours, for example. Based in the historic heart of Kingman, Arizona—often called the “heart of Route 66”—this QR code based narrated self guided tour (www.kingman.tours) offers everything from haunting tales of murder and mayhem to stories of celebrities such as Buster Keaton and Andy Devine. Add the glow of neon signs and warm summer evenings and travelers a whole new way to experience the Mother Road—moonlight instead of sunshine, tales from the shadows instead of bright colorful murals.
And there’s more. Communities are creating immersive visitor experiences that celebrate their heritage and tapping into modern technologies that connect with modern travelers:
PlugShare is guiding the way for electric vehicle drivers on Route 66, listing charging station locations to keep your EV—and your road trip—rolling. Read more here.
The Historical Electric Vehicle Foundation is building a museum dedicated to the past and future of electric mobility in Kingman, bridging the gap between nostalgia and tomorrow. (Don’t miss our June 29, 2025 episode of Coffee With Jim when our guest will be Tosha O’Neil of HEVF).
Food Tours of America is an opportunity to transform classic roadside dining into curated experiences that tie together culture, cuisine, and community stories.
Templates for Tomorrow: Tools for Community Leaders
Whether you’re a Main Street director, a chamber of commerce leader, CVB director or just someone who loves their town and its place on the map, now is the time to think big, bold, and outside the box.
Here are a few plug-and-play project ideas that any town, big or small can tap into or build upon:
Musical Roads
Engage local artists, music historians, and engineers.
Secure grants through cultural or centennial initiatives.
Make it a community effort: vote on the song to be played, make the dedication an epic celbration, tie it to a local music festivals or create one.
Heritage Walking & Night Tours
Amtrak connected many Route 66 communities. How abbout a step on train guides to tell local stories with flair.
Incorporate light projection, ghost walks, or perhpas a film and celebrity tour that appeal to all demographics.
Eco and EV Tourism
Work with apps like PlugShare to capitlize on gaps in EV infrastructure.
Host sustainable travel workshops or install interpretive signage on your community’s green initiatives.
Experiential Food Tourism
Collaborate with local diners and chefs to offer “Taste of Route 66” tours.
Connect cuisine with culture: Native American, Hispanic, African-American – Route 66 stories told through food.
A Road That Leads Forward
Paving the way to a bicentennial centennial begins with the development of Route 66 centennial projects. So, as we look toward 2026 and beyond, the message is clear: preservation without progress is just a museum. But Route 66 is more than a museum—it’s a cultural movement. With centennial projects that blend nostalgia with innovation, and with passionate people breathing life into the past, we’re not just remembering Route 66—we’re reinventing it for a new generation.
So let’s keep this momentum going. Let’s build roads that sing, tell stories that resonate, and offer adventures that spark wonder in every generation. Together, we can ensure that the centennial celebration is just the beginning—and that folks will still be telling stories about Route 66 another hundred years down the road.
Thank you. Shared adventures are the best adventures.