The bicentennial. When it comes to the Route 66 centennial there is a great deal of excitement and a bit of myopia. But what about the storied highways bicentennial? What would those celebrations look like? Will Route 66 and what it represents still be relevant? Can centennial projects and celebrations serve as the foundation for the bicentennial celebrations?

Obviously most everything about Route 66, and this country, will be quite different in 101 years. Just look at how much things have changed in the last 99 years. And yet today Route 66 may be more popular than at any time in its history. It even has an international fan club.

The Centennial

When it comes to capitalizing on the magic, the history and the romanticism of Route 66 the state of Oklahoma leads the pack. They began making plans, developing innovative preservation and promotional initiatives, and building a network of cooperative partnerships years ago.

Visionary leadership, ambitious and dedicated individuals, and lots of outside the box thinking ensure that Oklahoma will be a destination in 2026. With a focus on the centennial Tulsa has been transformed. And the 2026 AAA Route 66 Road Fest is already creating a buzz.

Unfortunately some folks are coming to the party a bit late. They didn’t start making plans for this once in a lifetime celebration and economic development opportunity last year. Even worse, some just started this year. And, incredibly, a few communities have yet to grasp the potential that is represented by Route 66 tourism.

America’s Longest Small Town

But Route 66 is America’s longest small town. It is a linear community. It is also a destination. And so even the unprepared community will benefit from the centennial celebrations.

Since at least 1927, Route 66 has been billed as the Main Street of America. And as Main Street has changed quite a lot since 1927, the centennial celebrations will reflect that. They will be a blending of old and new. And hopefully there will also be a bit of the future in that blending.

Exhibit A would be the work of the Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation and that organizations plans for the centennial. Perhaps these endeavors will also provide a glimpse of what bicentennial celebration may look like.

In the works since the 2014 International Route 66 Festival, the HEVF’s plans for the world’s first EV musuem are finally coming to fruition. Phase one is to be unveiled in 2026.

Opportunity Lost

Unfortunately the Route 66 Walk of Fame that was also introduced at that festival in 2014 was still born. Introduced as a Route 66 centennial project with plans to make the festival an annual event, it debuted with tremendous fanfare. And in the months that followed it garnered international media attention.

But that wasn’t enough to carry the project forward. The volunteers and grass roots initiative that transformed the concept into the festival had pinned hopes on the city moving it forward.

Fast forward to 2025. Kingman Main Street, when developing the innovative Kingman Tours project, gathered the remnants of the Walk of Fame. And working with the city Depot Plaza was created along Route 66 in front of the historic railroad depot. That stylish addition to the historic business district was unveiled during National Road Trip Day festivities in 2022.

Now bricks are sold as a fundraiser for Kingman Main Street, and they are installed framng the aborted walk of fame. The plaza is a wonderful enhancement for a business district undergoing a renaissance. Unfortunately it is also a monument to opportunity lost.

This isn’t the only project introduced with an eye on the centennial that fell by the wayside. From Chicago to Santa Monica the highway is littered with incomplete projects that were launched with passion and excitement. These too are a part of the Route 66 story. And they will be a part of its legacy in the future.

The Bicentennial

But passionate leaders with vision are found all along Route 66. They are spearheading a diverse array of Route 66 centennial projects. And many of those projects will survive well beyond the centennial, and they will be revered treasures when the highways bicentennial is celebrated.

The neon sign park at St. Robert, Missouri is one example. Aside from being a Route 66 landmark for a new generation of traveler, it is also a monument to the tenacity, the dedication, and the perseverance of Beth Wiles, Pulaski County Tourism Director, and her team.

The 11th Street corridor in Tulsa that funneled traffic through the city for decades is fast becoming a shrine to the spirit of Route 66. Many of these new landmarks and repurposed buildings will still be a destination when a generation of travelers yet born take to the road.

Pat Tuttle that has been at the helm of Joplin tourism for many years, is another example of the spirited leadership that is ensuring Route 66 remains important and relevant into the centennial and beyond. As an FYI,Tuttle will be the guest on Coffee With Jim, our weekly podcast on Podbean, on August 17.

The Legacy

The legacy of people like Cyrus Avery, Alberta Ellis, and John T. Woodruff is the centennial celebration. Route 66 is not the most historic or even most scenic highway. But from its inception it has had the best publicity. And that marketing transformed Route 66 from highway to icon that has come to symbolize the quintessential American road trip experience.

Michael Wallis, Angel Delgadillo, John and Lenore Weiss, and David and Mary Lou Knudson also have a legacy linked to the Route 66 centennial. They along with Bob Waldmire, Jerry McClanahan, Jim Ross, and countless others sparked a renaissance, and then fanned that spark into a blaze.

And now a new generation is crafting a legacy that ensure this storied old highway remains relevant long after the centennial. Rhys Martin and Sam, his wife, Rich and Christina Dinkela, Elizabeth Olwig, and Brady Wilson are now picking up the torch. They are bridging the highways past with its future. They are the new stewards.

Bridging Past and Future

As many of you know, Jim Hinckley’s America is rooted in Route 66. I am honored to have played a role in ensuring Route 66 remained relevant into the centennial. And I look forward to helping a new generation of stewards as they work to ensure that the road, it’s culture, and its rich legacy are still vibrant in 100 years.

So, with that said, let’s make plans to celebrate the most famous highway in America. And while we are at it, let’s see if we can play a role in ensuring that this legendary highway is celebrated in 100 years.