From centennial to bicentennial, who will ensure Route 66 remains relevant? As we approach the centennial of Route 66, we’re not merely celebrating the past. We are also looking toward the future and the next 100 years.

What comes next? If the fabled Main Street of America is to continue inspiring and connecting people from centennial to bicentennial what are we doing to cultivate a new generation of Route 66 legacy guardians? How do we preserve the tangible links to the highways evolution, and collections of memorabilia?

The Challenge of Living Memory

Here’s a sobering fact. The people who drove, worked, or lived along Route 66 before the generic Interstate era are now in their 70s, 80s, or beyond. That means the era when Route 66 was literally the Main Street in communities between Chicago and Santa Monica (rather than a “historic byway”) is rapidly receding from living memory.

The stories, photographs, first-person accounts, and small local details are endangered. So as we prepare to celebrate the centennial, we need to give thought to passing the torch. And we need to have conversations about the future of preservation. How will Route 66 continue blurring the line between past, present and future? And what role will AI and other technologies play in inspiring road trips amd preserving the legacy of the Route 66 community?

If we don’t forge a bridge between living memory and interpretation, and between generations, legendary Route 66 could become nothing more than a dusty nostalgia driven time capsule. It could fade as a dynamic, vibrant community of travelers, entrepreneurs, and storytellers.

This is our challenge. We need a concerted effort that welcomes the next generation to this dynamic community. And we need mentors that empowers them to build on the legacy of Cyrus Avery, Michael Wallis, Jack and Gladys Cutberth, and Bob Waldmire. It is important that we encourage the next genration to write new chapters in the Route 66 story. This is how we ensure that Route 66 and the heritage of the American story written in this old highway will be preserved.

The Architects of Revival

Michael Wallis

Often called the “godfather of Route 66,” Wallis’s Route 66: The Mother Road is credited as the catalyst for the Route 66 renaissance. That book revived popular interest in what many had begun to dismiss as a relic. A skilled storyteller, he also lent his distinctive voice to Cars (as Sheriff), a movie that introduced a new generation to the magic of Route 66.

Bob Waldmire

Robert “Bob” Waldmire (1945–2009) was a cartographer and accomplished folk artist. His maps, illustrations, murals, and quirky visual narratives infused the old road with personality. He lived modestly, often in a converted school bus (now on display in Pontiac, Illinois) while traveling and documenting the the Route 66 community. His revered work continues to inspire artists and road pilgrims alike.

Jim Ross & Shellee Graham

Ross and Graham co-authored Route 66: The First 100 Years. Their latest book blends research into an historical narrative. This is enhanced with stunning photography and art. Ross and Graham have also created photography exhibitions and popular presentations. Their involvement in preservation initiaitves have been instrumental in the reniassance and development of Route 66 centennial celebrations.

John Weiss

In Illinois, John Weiss, and his wife Lenore, were pioneers in Route 66 preservation. John is acclaimed for his tours, written guides, and advocacy for presenting Route 66 not as a static museum but as a corridor alive with possibilities. The Weiss’s were inducted into the Route 66 Walk of Fame in 2014.

Swa Frantzen

Based in Belgium, Swa Frantzen, and Nadine Pelican, were instrumental in the awakening of European interest in Route 66. The Historic Route 66 Facebook group they established is now the largest of its kind with contributors numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

David Knudson

David Knudson and his wife Mary Lou established the National Historic Route 66 Federation in the mid 1990s. It evolved into a worldwide, nonprofit organization. From inception the focus was directing the public’s attention to the importance of U. S. Highway Route 66 in America’s cultural heritage. The Federation was also instrumental in spearheading acquisition of federal, state and private support necessary to preserve the historic landmarks. The Federaion is also the publisher of Jerry McClanahan’s EZ 66 Guide for Travelers.

Jerry McClanahan

An artist, author, and explorer, for decades McClanahan has combed forgotten alignments, and produced the EZ66 Guide for Travelers. His paintings, map work, and field discoveries have inspired travelrs and contributed to preservation initiatives.

Angel Delgadillo

A living icon of the route, Angel is often called the “guardian angel” of Route 66. In Seligman, Arizona, he founded the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, the template for other state associations. He has become the face and voice of the Route 66 reniassance memovement. Legions of Route 66 enthusiasts flock to his barbershop hoping to meet the legend.

Jim Hinckley’s America is a transitional link. Our network was built on the foundation laid by a remarkable cadre of writers, entrepreneurs, visionaries, artists, and historians. These are a few of the people that have served as the architect’s of revival and the pioneering stewards of the Route 66 renaissance. Is this torch being passed to a new generation? Yes!

Passing the torch

I opened this post by asking questions about the future of Route 66, and who will carry the torch beyond the centennial. Well, I would like to introduce you to the next generation of Route 66 stewards.

These are a few of the people that are building on the work of Cyrus Avery. They are also pioneers of the renaissance.

• Rhys & Samantha Martin: Rhys serves as President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. He is also the manager of the Preserve Route 66 Initiative at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. His wife, Sam, has played a key role in the development of Route 66 centennial projects and preservation initiatives in Tulsa. Together they are a passionate duo whose work in Tulsa and across Oklahoma connect centennial planning, corridor revitalization, and community development.
• Brady Wilson: Wilson’s work with the Old Route 66 Association of Texas has included signage restoration and representing the association in dealings with the state of Texas. He has also been involved with numerous preservation initiatives.
• Elizabeth Olwig: Working with the Missouri Route 66 Association, Elizabeth has helped create displays at events such as the AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa. She has also assisted with community development projects, and assisted with initiatives that foster local engagement to embed Route 66 heritage in neighborhood identity.
• Tosha O’Neil: Associated with the Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation, Tosha is instrumental in development of an EV museum in Kingman, Arizona. This and related projects are crucial to development of an EV friendly Route 66 corridor.
• Tim Webb & Lenore Knudtson (Kingman, Arizona): Possessed with unshakeable confidence, vision and ambition Webb and Knudtson have transformed an entire derelict block along Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona. Tin Can Alley on 66, Scoops on 66, and Mudd on 66 are moret than new destinations. They aptly illustrate how adaptive reuse, hospitality, and art can transform a block into a destination.

These pioneers and stewards are writing the first chapter in the second century of Route 66. They are not just preserving, they are reimagining what Route 66 can be.

Strategies to Carry Route 66 into Its Second Century

To transform the centennial celebration into lasting relevance, here are threads I believe are essential:

1. Oral Histories & Digital Archives
   Capture stories before they slip away. Record conversations with those who lived the road, digitize photos, postcards, and memorabilia, and make them accessible to a new generation of explorers.
2. Technology + Interactivity
   Deploy AR tours, interactive apps, QR-enabled historic signage, even geocaching routes. Let travelers become co-creators of the Mother Road’s story. Need a template or a glimpse of the future? Check out the Kingman Main Street Kingman Tours project.
3. Intergenerational Mentorship
   Pair younger storytellers, artists, historians, and travelers with veterans of the Route 66 movement. Encourage road trips, reportage, artwork, and collaborative events.
4. Sustainable Mobility Overlay
   Build EV charging hubs, solar art installations, and green infrastructure along the corridor. Let Route 66 be both historic and forward-looking.
5. Corridor Identity over Isolated Sites
   Encourage communities to see themselves not as disconnected checkpoints, but as nodes in a larger narrative thread from Chicago to Santa Monica. Michael Wallis refferred to Route 66 as a linear community. Let’s take that a step further and transform Route 66 into America’s longest small town.
6. Diversity & Untold Voices
   Emphasize stories of women travelers, racial minorities, indigenous communities, migrant workers, and other voices along the highway. Let the rich diversity of the American story flow through Route 66’s narrative.

Your Invitation: Be Part of the Next Chapter

As we prepare to celebrate the centennial, I have a few questions.

• Which Route 66 figure (old guard or new) captures your imagination—and why?
• What project would you like to see (or help lead)? Photologs, AR maps, youth caravans, mural contests, podcast series?
• In 2126, what do you want the Mother Road to be? Do you envision it as a scenic drive, a cultural corridor, a storytelling engine, or something new we haven’t yet imagined?
• Would you join a mentorship circle, submit your own road stories, or help digitize histories?

Your ideas and voices matter. In upcoming posts, episodes of Coffee With Jim, and on Patreon, I will share your thoughts to spark constructive discussion. And we are giving thought to launching a weekly YouTube live program. This is in response to inquiries about a a venue for interactive conversations.

Support the Movement: Patreon, Sponsorship, Community

Jim Hinckley’s America is more than a brand. This is a community. It is an adventure dedicated to sharing America’s stories and inspiring road trips. We built it on the shoulders of Michael Wallis, Bob Waldmire, Jim Ross, Shellee Graham, Swa Frantzen, John Weiss, and legions of passionate visionaries. Now, we are inviting a new generation to build on that foundation.

Here are ways you can become a Jim Hnckley’s America partner. Together we can play a role in ensuring Route 66 remains relevant and exciting for another century:

• Become a Patron or Sponsor: As a patron, you’ll get behind-the-scenes access, exclusive updates, and chances to collaborate. And your commitment to monthly support enables us to develop projects that would not be economically feasible. Or become a sponsor, a part of our network of cooperative partnerships.
• Share, Subscribe & Follow: Spread the word—share our posts, subscribe to updates, follow us across social media, and invite friends to share the adventure. Every new member of the Jim Hinckley’s America community is a new potential steward of this road.
• Participate & Co-Create: Submit your stories, photos, ideas. Mentor younger road lovers. Attend events, road trips, local meetups. Our strength is the community.

By supporting, sponsoring, or simply engaging, you help us ensure that Route 66 is more than a relic. You can help us share America’s story. And we can inspire road trips by telling people where to go.

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Let’s build forward, not just look back.
The Main Street of America belongs not only to memory. It is a blending of the past, present and future. I hope that you’ll join this journey and share the adventure.

Drop a comment, send me your ideas, join us on Patreon today. Together we’ll help ensure that in 2126, Route 66 is still a vibrant, meaningful repository of the American story.