The National Trust for Historic Preservation seeks to gather a total of 2,026 stories about Route 66 in time for the highway’s centennial in 2026.
“Route 66 is more than just a road; it’s a tapestry of diverse cultures and histories. We want to showcase the people and places that make Route 66 special,” the organization stated.
The trust stated that as time goes by, historic places and their stories continue to be lost.
We believe that many of these stories along Route 66 remain untold and we need your help in amplifying them to the wider world!
We invite you — community members, travelers, historians, and enthusiasts — to share your stories and photos about Route 66. Whether it’s a quirky roadside attraction, a treasured business, a piece of family history, or a personal memory, every contribution helps piece together a more complete picture of Route 66’s history. Together, we’ll tell a more complete story of this iconic highway, ensuring that no story, no place, and no memory along Route 66 is left in the shadows.
The campaign will be used to build a web-based mapping app that would provide a way for the public to virtually explore this iconic stretch of the U.S. and capture these memories for the historical record.
Quite a few stories already have been posted on the website. A quick perusal reveals stories about Mother Jones’ grave, the Madonna on the Trail monument, La Posada Hotel, Route 66 Auto Museum, Blue Swallow Motel, Wigwam Motel and even obscure places such as Bernie’s Bar & Grill in Avilla, Missouri, or the defunct Sheraton Western Skies motel in Albuquerque.
If you have a Route 66 story, here is where to submit your entry. With the images submitted, the National Trust requests JPG or PNG files.
(Image of the Route 66 ghost town of Spencer, Missouri, by thelostadventure via Flickr)