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Route 66 New Mexico magazine has achieved distinguished recognition as an “Official Route 66 Centennial Project” from the US Route 66 Centennial Commission. In a formal letter, the Route 66 Centennial Team congratulated the magazine, stating: “Congratulations, ‘Route 66 New Mexico magazine, special centennial year issues’ are now a part of the national Route 66 Centennial Certified Projects family. You are now authorized to use the certification emblem for your promotional purposes, and your project will be listed on the National Route 66 Centennial website as a Route 66 Centennial Certified Project.” Published quarterly by the New Mexico Route 66 Association, Route 66 New Mexico magazine highlights the history, culture, preservation efforts, and events along the state’s 604+ miles of the iconic highway. Each issue includes a comprehensive list of Route 66 businesses and features a detailed map marking communities, points of interest, and exit numbers. Distribution is free at visitor centers, chambers of commerce, and various Route 66 locations, with a broad readership of 46,000 worldwide. Throughout 2026, all issues of the magazine will spotlight New Mexico’s officially certified Route 66 Centennial activities and projects, as recognized by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. The publication's mission is to celebrate, educate, and promote Route 66 tourism and support businesses along the route in New Mexico. Melissa Beasley-Lee, president of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, expressed deep gratitude for the official certification, stating, “We couldn’t be more honored than to receive official certification from the US Route 66 Centennial Commission. We would like to thank the commission for making this possible.” Beasley-Lee also shared enthusiasm for the magazine’s progress, noting that after 34 years in production, Route 66 New Mexico magazine has expanded significantly over the past decade, offering increased content and diversity. She emphasized the importance of the dedicated team and the support from businesses purchasing advertisements, which has enabled the magazine to maintain its high quality for members and visitors. The publication receives no state or centennial funds, making production challenging. Membership dues help offset some costs, while writers contribute content voluntarily and businesses cover most production expenses through ad purchases. Additional support comes from donations. Beasley-Lee acknowledged that the magazine’s existence is a tribute to everyone who contributes, making the centennial designation an honor for them as well. Individuals interested in joining the New Mexico Route 66 Association and receiving Route 66 New Mexico magazine as a member benefit are encouraged to visit rt66nm.org/join-or-renew.html for more information. Learn more about the commission at https://www.route66-centennial.com/  Celebrate 100 Years of America's Iconic Highway: Introducing the U.S. Route 66 Centennial
January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026 The year 2026 marks the centennial anniversary of Route 66, America's most legendary highway—the Mother Road, a symbol of hope, travel, commerce, and culture. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, in partnership with the Route 66 Centennial Commission and communities across the eight states the road traverses, is extending a special invitation to travelers, residents, businesses, and media to join a once-in-a-century journey of celebration, preservation, discovery, and economic revival with a Guide to the Yearlong Centennial Celebration. "From the heartland of Illinois across the plains and deserts to the Pacific in California, Route 66 has been more than pavement—it's been a pathway of hope, of travel, of commerce, of culture," said Bill Thomas, Chair of the Road Ahead Partnership and Commissioner of the Route 66 Centennial Commission. This Centennial is a national moment—an invitation to millions of Americans who live, work, and travel along the route to not just recognize the road's past, but to actively engage its present and help shape its future. The Mother Road helped shape our country's sense of adventure, community, and possibility. As we mark 100 years, we honor that legacy and open new opportunities for the next 100 years, opportunities that you, the audience, can help define. Beginning January 1, 2026, the Centennial year will spotlight the historic 2,448-mile corridor from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, via Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Key Milestones and Events The Centennial year is packed with a diverse range of major, officially designated events, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy. January 3–12, 2026 Launch & Caravan: The Drive Home VII: Route 66 – A Century of Adventure A coast-to-coast rally beginning in Santa Monica, California, and finishing January 12, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, with final display at the Detroit Auto Show, starting January 14. “America’s Automotive Trust is proud to be the first major event celebrating 100 years of our nation’s most iconic highway the way it should be done: by driving its entire length in 10 vintage cars. Most importantly, we will be visiting and celebrating the towns, small businesses, and people who call Route 66 ‘home,” said David Madeira, CEO. "The Detroit Auto Show has long been where the world comes to celebrate both the history of cars and their future — a place where heritage and innovation meet. Welcoming The Drive Home VII caravan to Detroit is an extension of that spirit. These remarkable vehicles will be displayed at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, giving the public a chance to see, up close, the machines that helped write America’s automotive story as we continue shaping the next chapter,” said Sam Klemet, Executive Director of the Detroit Auto Show and Detroit Auto Dealers Association. April 2, 2026 Rediscover Route 66-One Miniature Mile at a Time journey across Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. April 30-May 2, 2026 Springfield, Missouri, the Birthplace of Route 66, is launching the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration with fun for all ages.
Plus, satellite cities — Joliet, St. Louis, Amarillo, Albuquerque, and Santa Monica — will join the coast-to-coast kickoff with their own celebrations and surprises. “We are thrilled to have the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff in Springfield, Missouri, known as the Birthplace,” said Governor Mike Kehoe. Missouri embodies the spirit of innovation, hospitality, and perseverance that made Route 66 an icon around the world. I’m excited for our state to welcome visitors from near and far as we celebrate a year of honoring this historic highway and the communities that continue to keep its story alive.” June 6-25, 2026 Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan from Santa Monica to Chicago Hosted by the eight Route 66 State Associations (including the New Mexico Route 66 Association) and The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. June 20-28, 2026 Route 66 Centennial Great Race From Chicago to Santa Monica. September through December The Main Street of America Rolling Film Premier of The Main Street of America documentary, with screenings currently scheduled in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California State-by-State Spotlights ILLINOIS November 11, 2026 Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Statewide Conference and Centennial Celebration in Springfield, IL – A major conference and celebration marking the centennial. MISSOURI April 11, 2026 A spirited reenactment of the historic Bunion Derby 5K in Lebanon May 29–31, 2026 Pacific’s Route 66 BBQ Battle & Bluegrass Festival June 2-6, 2026 Joplin’s World Street Painting Festival and Rolla’s Route 66 Summerfest September Waynesville’s Hogs & Frogs Festival OKLAHOMA June 27-28, 2026 AAA Route 66 Road Fest, Tulsa, OK - hosted by AAA Insurance TEXAS June 4–13, 2026 Texas Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, with classic car shows, bus tours, and cattle drive parade NEW MEXICO April 30, 2026 Centennial Kick-Off celebration in Albuquerque at historic KiMo Theatre and augmented reality Route 66 Remixed ARIZONA May 1-3, 2026 Route 66 Fun Run - the oldest Route 66 Celebration in the U.S. KANSAS June 3-6, 2026 Galena Days in Galena, KS - annual festival, classic car show, parade, and more CALIFORNIA April 30, 2026 Great Route 66 Centennial Convergence at Santa Monica Pier, 5 p.m. – the symbolic end point of Route 66. Key Partners and Projects Official Publishing Partner Only In Your State – a digital storytelling and travel platform named by the Road Ahead Partnership as the exclusive Official Centennial Publishing Partner. Official Map Provider Rand McNally Publishing – producing the Official Centennial Map of Route 66. Official RV Rental Sponsor Cruise America Whether you're a lifelong Route 66 enthusiast or new to this iconic corridor, the Road Ahead Partnership is inviting the country to:
About the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership Established in 2016 with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments Fund, the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership's mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research, education, and economic development. Only In Your State is the official Publishing Partner to the Route 66 Centennial. Founding Sponsors of the Route 66 Centennial include Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission, American Express, Route 66 Road Fest, Travel Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission , Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, Booking.com, Rand McNally Publishing and Cruise America. For more information, visit route66centennial.org. Monthly historical lecture series for Route 66 Centennial in 2026 in and near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. One day a month (fourth Saturday of evert month, January through November). Thirteen topics. Twelve locations. All events are free and open to the public. Lectures repeat throughout the locations throughout the year. Sponsored by Albuquerque Historical Society, East Mountain Historical Society, Historic Albuquerque, Inc., Los Ranchos Historical Society. Support from City of Albuquerque, City of Rio Rancho, and Bernalillo County. Follow this series on Facebook or visit their website. facebook.com/Route66HistoryTalks Route 66 Speakers route66speakers.org  As the Route 66 centennial approaches, a project built on scale and patience has been named an Official Route 66 Centennial Project. Rediscovering Route 66 – One Miniature Mile at a Time, created by teen photographer Anthony Schmidt, offers a new way of seeing the Mother Road by shrinking it down without diminishing its meaning. The project recreates segments of Route 66 through photography using die-cast model cars placed against real-world backdrops. Historic signage, roadside architecture, pavement, and surrounding landscapes become the stage for carefully composed scenes that echo the full-sized road. Each image functions as a bridge between generations, inviting younger audiences and heritage travelers to reconnect with Route 66 through a format that feels both playful and precise. The journey begins in Chicago on April 2, 2026, and will follow the full length of Route 66 to the Santa Monica Pier. Over 16 to 18 days, Schmidt will document the route mile by mile, translating thousands of miles into a series of small, deliberate moments. The result is a visual narrative that treats the highway not as a blur of distance, but as a collection of places worth stopping for. At 17, Schmidt brings a perspective shaped by curiosity and focus. Based in Georgia, he has developed his photographic voice through a long-standing fascination with cars and miniature models. That interest evolved into a method, and then into a project that reframes how Route 66 can be documented. His work also contributes to a broader rethinking of how creative talent and neurodiversity intersect, emphasizing skill and vision over labels. The centennial designation places the project within the national framework of Route 66’s 100th anniversary. It will be featured on the centennial website, included in promotional efforts, and connected with Route 66 associations, tourism partners, schools, and civic groups along the corridor. The official status also allows the project to carry the centennial mark, linking it visually and symbolically to the larger celebration. Rediscovering Route 66 – One Miniature Mile at a Time reflects the centennial’s larger goal: honoring the road’s past while finding new ways to tell its story. By reducing the scale, the project invites closer attention, reminding viewers that Route 66 is not just measured in miles, but in moments.
Route 66 has been formally recognized not just as a cultural icon, but as a work of engineering that reshaped the nation. The American Society of Civil Engineers has designated the Mother Road a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, acknowledging its role in transforming American transportation and infrastructure as the highway approaches its centennial. Approved by the ASCE board in July, the designation situates Route 66 alongside bridges, canals, and systems that altered how the country moves and connects. When it was established in 1926, Route 66 became the first paved, all-weather highway linking the Midwest to the West Coast. It was a practical solution to a logistical problem, but it quickly became something larger: a corridor of mobility, commerce, and possibility stretching across eight states. The nomination effort reflected that scale. Ten ASCE Sections, representing Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, jointly advanced the proposal, aligning the recognition with the road’s upcoming 100th anniversary in 2026. The timing underscores a shift in how Route 66 is understood, not only as a symbol of freedom and travel, but as a coordinated engineering achievement that set new standards for highway design and construction. As part of the designation, ASCE identified fifteen notable engineering features along the route, highlighting bridges, realignments, and roadway segments that demonstrate technical innovation and historical importance. These include river crossings such as the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi, desert infrastructure like the Rio Puerco Bridge in New Mexico, and urban engineering landmarks including the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena and the Arroyo Seco Parkway in Los Angeles. Together, these sites trace the evolution of civil engineering across diverse landscapes and decades of use. Since 1964, ASCE’s Historic Civil Engineering Landmark program has worked to preserve significant engineering accomplishments through documentation and public awareness. Inclusion in the program places Route 66 within that lineage, ensuring its engineering story is recorded alongside its cultural mythology. The designation reframes the road as an act of collective problem-solving. Route 66 connected communities, accelerated economic development, and demonstrated how infrastructure could knit a vast country together. As the centennial approaches, the landmark status affirms that the road’s legacy rests as much in concrete and steel as it does in memory and motion. Learn more: www.route66nhcel.us  Research Route 66 is opening the centennial year by slowing things down and listening carefully. Beginning in January, the organization will launch a Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series, a monthly, virtual gathering designed to explore the many stories braided into the Mother Road. The opening session features David Dunaway, whose work centers on voices often left out of the official narrative and the quieter histories that still echo along the pavement. The series is built around the idea that Route 66 is not a single story but a long conversation. Over the course of 2026, speakers will move across subjects that reveal how the highway shaped—and was shaped by—American life. Foodways, Indigenous perspectives, baseball culture, atomic history, and women’s labor all come into view, each topic adding texture to a road too often reduced to postcards and neon. These sessions aim to show Route 66 as a working corridor of ideas and experiences in the twentieth century, one that continues to influence how the nation understands travel, community, and identity. The road becomes less of a relic and more of a living archive. All programs will be offered free of charge and hosted virtually on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the centennial year. Each session begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time, 11 a.m. Pacific, and recordings will be posted to YouTube for those who cannot attend live. The initial lineup includes presentations by Susan Croce Kelly on the invention of Route 66, Cheryl Eichar Jett on women’s work along the road, a multi-voiced discussion of the Mother Road Book featuring Michael Wallis, Ken Busby, and Rhys Martin, T. Lindsay Baker on Route 66 foodways, and a centennial overview by Jim Ross and Shellee Graham. The series will be moderated by Audra Bellmore. The speaker series has been designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Activity by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, marking it as part of the broader national observance. Registration is currently open for the January session, with additional registration details to follow as the series unfolds. Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series speakers.researchroute66.org  As the Route 66 centennial approaches, a new project is reframing how the road is seen and experienced. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership has announced that the American Indigenous Tourism Association’s Native American Travel App–Route 66 Map Project has been designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project by the Route 66 Centennial Commission. The initiative centers on a digital, interactive map to be hosted on DestinationNativeAmerica.com, designed to guide travelers toward Native Nations, destinations, and cultural attractions along the length of the Mother Road. Rather than treating Indigenous presence as a footnote to the Route 66 story, the project places Native communities where they have always been: at the center of the landscape. Route 66 spans more than 2,400 miles across eight states, running from Chicago to the edge of the Pacific near the Santa Monica Pier. Long before the highway was paved and numbered, this corridor passed through homelands shaped by thousands of years of Indigenous history. The new map acknowledges that continuity, offering travelers a way to engage with living cultures rather than static symbols. The project is intended for all who travel Route 66, whether moving east or west, fast or slow. Its purpose is not simply navigation, but connection. By highlighting Native-owned tourism experiences and destinations, the map encourages a deeper understanding of place and supports economic opportunity rooted in cultural integrity. This effort builds on the American Indigenous Tourism Association’s earlier work, American Indians & Route 66, which documented Indigenous histories tied to the road. The digital map expands that foundation, translating research and storytelling into a practical tool for travelers who want to move beyond the familiar imagery of neon signs and roadside diners. The centennial designation recognizes the importance of including Indigenous perspectives in the official narrative of Route 66. As the nation prepares to celebrate the road’s 100th anniversary, the project serves as a reminder that Route 66 did not create this corridor, but followed paths that already existed. By bringing Native Nations into clearer focus, the map reshapes the Route 66 experience into something more complete. It asks travelers to see the highway not just as a symbol of mobility and freedom, but as a passage through cultures that remain present, resilient, and essential to understanding the full story of the road. American Indigenous Tourism Association americanindigenoustourism.org/route-66-centennial-project Destination Native America destinationnativeamerica.com  |
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