topic Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66! in Community Chat

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Oznell — Sun, 03 May 2026 18:25:37 GMT

"Get your KICKS, on Route Sixty-Six"

2026 has a lot of people excited about celebrations. Not just America's 250th birthday, but, on a slightly less grandiose level, the 100th anniversary of legendary Route 66!

OK, it was decommissioned in the 80's, but of course it lives on in many ways. What is it about this historic road that grabs our imaginations?

The original route:

Starting in Chicago, and ending at the Santa Monica pier in California. Originally commissioned in November of 1926. But the 100th anniversary revelries are not waiting till November of this year to kick off.

Just a tiny fraction of them:

So much more is found at the Route 66 Centennial site.

The 66 Diner in Albuquerque--

Fun fact-- Springfield, Missouri considers itself the birthplace of Route 66, because officials there first proposed that the new highway be given the number "66"-- and it was accepted!

The lure of the open road. Route 66 sparked so many pop culture references, from the eponymous TV show and its jazzy theme music, to numerous insertions into literature (both fiction and memoir) and film.

Never fear, parts of Route 66 are still drivable. The longest uninterrupted stretch is in Arizona, over 100 miles.

If you have fond memories of the road, please share.

The campier the imagery, the better!

My parents had a certain wanderlust, packing us up summers, and I know we traveled on what would have been landmark parts of the road, on our way to see family in California, or just meandering for fun.

If only my Dad hadn't cheerfully made us get up at the crack of dawn every morning to hit the road!! How well I remember Amarillo, Tucumcari, Gallup, Flagstaff.... There was a different adventure each day.

Nostalgic, cinematic, living only in imagination, or nature's grandeur-- what's your Route 66?

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Ainhisg — Sun, 03 May 2026 18:39:00 GMT

I live in Springfield, Missouri, and there was a lot of hoopla here this weekend. The Today Show crew came on Thursday, and Springfield was featured during the third hour. John Goodman started his acting career here at Missouri State University, and he flew in as an honored celebrity. For the first 19 years of my life, I lived in a house on Route 66.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Mz iMac — Sun, 03 May 2026 18:36:58 GMT

@Oznell I remember the tv show. Have no idea what it was about or even if I ever watced the series/show.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:25:52 GMT

"Get your KICKS, on Route Sixty-Six"

@Oznell

Thanks for posting! It's a big year for birthdays: America is 250, the Cubs are 150, and Route 66 is 100.

When I first moved to Albuquerque I needed address labels. Found one that was a picture of New Mexico's old yellow license plate that I could personalize.

My choice was KIX ON 66.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Kachina624 — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:09:31 GMT

Yes, those of us living in Rte. 66 territory have heard of little else for months. It's about 2 miles from my house.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Sun, 03 May 2026 21:06:05 GMT

@Oznell

I bought this print when we moved here to hang in our "Route 66" room. A few years later I was working in a historic building on the same stretch of road (Central Avenue).

A bit of trivia. I've been in every state along the Route and I've lived in four of them: Illinois, Arizona, California and New Mexico.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Mary Bailey — Sun, 03 May 2026 21:10:17 GMT

I look out my kitchen window, backyard - there is a Route 66 sign.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Sun, 03 May 2026 21:42:28 GMT

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Oznell — Sun, 03 May 2026 23:32:23 GMT

Very cool that @Ainhisg , @Kachina624 , @Mary Bailey , and @just bee , you all have lived or still do live, directly in the orbit of Route 66!

@Mz iMac , I didn't see the show "Route 66" the first time around, but ME TV ran it a while back, and it's really fun. I like Martin Milner and George Maharis. Wish they'd run it again.

Great idea for your address labels, @just bee . Love those

pictures you found too. That last one is retro perfection!

Not sure if I ever knew or just forgot that you had a Route 66 room! Was that in the old house? Do describe.

Has anybody here eaten at the 66 Diner in Albuquerque?

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Sun, 03 May 2026 23:49:37 GMT

@Oznell wrote:

Not sure if I ever knew or just forgot that you had a Route 66 room! Was that in the old house? Do describe.

Has anybody here eaten at the 66 Diner in Albuquerque?

@Oznell

It was the front room that has a view of the Sandias. Had a Southwest-style futon (with a Route 66 design cover) in there for guests, but it soon turned into the official dog room. Our boy loved to look out the window and keep an eye on things.

As for the diner, it's a great place for a milkshake.

I think I need to stop by again this summer...

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:23:33 GMT

@Oznell

Speaking of diners...

Lindy's had been in business since the 1920s.

And then this happened... last week.

An Albuquerque landmark.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Pipsqueak — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:44:55 GMT

This was a quirky motel I remember on Route 66 that was built just outside the St. Louis city limits called Coral Court. The original 10 cabins (or bungalows) were an example of Art Deco style built during the 40's. They were bright yellow colored buildings because the bricks were actually glazed and had large glass blocks for windows. Also, considered a good example of what was called a motor court because each building had its own attached private garage.

Before demolition in the 90's, a preservationist group actually disassembled one whole unit, piece by piece, and reassembled it to put on display housed at a museum in St. Louis County.

Thanks again Oznell, you always have such entertaining subject matter!

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Pipsqueak — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:50:14 GMT

Oh, just bee that is awful what happened to that diner.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:58:04 GMT

@Pipsqueak wrote:
Oh, just bee that is awful what happened to that diner.

@Pipsqueak

I'd hate to see that building demolished. Guess we'll find out if it can be saved.

Love the Coral Court photos!

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Kachina624 — Mon, 04 May 2026 01:05:45 GMT

@Pipsqueak. They were very fortunate nobody was in the building.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

shoekitty — Mon, 04 May 2026 01:26:27 GMT

@Oznell I think Route 66 goes through some of the most interesting landscapes. It stretches from Los Angeles to Chicago nd goes through 8 states. Many historic sites along the way, as well as museums and several scenic look outs. No wonder they call it the Mother Road.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Mon, 04 May 2026 02:06:49 GMT

As @Oznell mentioned, USPS has in its Forever stamp collection the new Route 66 design.

Wish I still had my KIX ON 66 address labels!

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

just bee — Mon, 04 May 2026 02:43:48 GMT

@Oznell

You posted this photo:

Here's what it looks like during the day:

Opened in Albuquerque in 1937.

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Desertdi — Mon, 04 May 2026 07:03:30 GMT

I've lived at both ends...and have driven the whole length at least a dozen times.

I-40 has mostly replaced US 66...

Re: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, ROUTE 66!

Desertdi — Mon, 04 May 2026 07:11:24 GMT

Anybody remember the old Eagles song???