Full Breakdown
Springfield Marks the 100th Anniversary of Route 66 with a Week of Historic Events
4/29/2026, 9:27:54 PM
Centennial Kickoff
On Thursday, April 30, the Federal Highway Administration, Governor Mike Kehoe and state officials convened at Crossway Baptist Church to launch the centennial. Speakers emphasized Route 66’s historic influence and upcoming upgrades to Interstate 44. The ceremony preceded a free documentary screening, a steak-eating challenge, a time-capsule dedication and a weekend festival.
Naming of Route 66
In April 1926 officials gathered at Springfield’s Colonial Hotel to select a number for the Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. After discarding 60 and 62, they chose the unused 66 and sent a telegram from the hotel’s Postal Telegraph office. The designation was approved on 11 Nov 1926, establishing Springfield as the route’s birthplace.
Organizers
The centennial is organized by the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission, Ozarks Public Television (OPT) and the History Museum on the Square. Key participants include OPT director Sue Robinson, producer Nico Burasco, Route 66 Association president Jeremy Morris and sponsors Great Southern Bank and Liberty Utilities.
Community Projects
OPT’s film “Lost and Found on Route 66” premiered at the Fox Theatre on May 2, followed by a Q&A. The History Museum’s time capsule, donated by Holloway America, will contain student letters, artwork, essays and a kickoff video, to be opened on 30 April 2126. An African-American Heritage Trail adds three markers—Kentwood Hall, Alberta’s Hotel and Graham’s Bar-B-Q—to record segregation-era travel.
Business Impact
Construction of the Queensgate Route 66 sculpture has temporarily reduced traffic on Saint Louis Street, prompting Super Cars owner Angel Matthews to note lower sales. Other businesses, such as Nick Venute Law Offices, expect long-term tourism growth as the centennial draws thousands and revitalizes historic storefronts.
Official Statements
OPT’s Sue Robinson said the centennial “highlights how Route 66 continues to surprise explorers and thrive in a new millennium.” Governor Kehoe called the kickoff an opportunity to “honor the Mother Road’s legacy and look toward the next century of travel.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “A century after the creation of Route 66, the Mother Road still finds new ways to surprise explorers and provide stories to those who exit the interstate and follow the road less traveled,” — Sue Robinson, OPT Director of Community Support
- “We ask people why they visit Springfield and they say nostalgia,” — Barbara Turner, Business Owner
- “Not as much traffic flowing down Saint Louis Street, so of course, we get sales by traffic and people driving by,” — Angel Matthews, Owner, Super Cars
- “We wanted to develop something where we could chronical this history for generations to come,” — Dr. Lyle Foster, Missouri State University
Looking Ahead
The centennial schedule continues with a parade, additional film screenings and the August Birthplace of Route 66 Festival. The sealed time capsule will remain in Jubilee Park for a century, slated for reopening on 30 April 2126, linking today’s Springfield to future generations.
