Community Chat

[Oznell]

"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?

[Ainhisg]

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.

[Mz iMac]

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

[just bee]

"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. 

[Kachina624]

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

[just bee]

@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.

[Mary Bailey]

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

[just bee]

[Oznell]

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? 

[just bee]

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@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...