The State Historical Society of Missouri is among 20 organizations partnering with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Google Arts & Culture to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 with a collection of 130 stories of the Mother Road’s past, present, and future. America’s iconic highway offers a unique place in history representing the nation’s spirit of adventure and its diverse culture and people that shaped the communities along Route 66.
These stories, including Missouri’s section of Route 66, can be found on the Google Arts & Culture website. The new online resource includes exhibits, images, maps, architectural drawings, stories, and other material related to the history of the famous highway. The public can learn how Route 66 became a destination for visitors from across the globe and see and download historical images. The online site also introduces new audiences to the Route’s legacy.
Missouri played an important role in the development of Route 66 as the birthplace. On April 30, 1926, officials in Springfield, Mo. received a telegram from the federal government designating the new highway number as Route 66. Cyrus Avery, the Oklahoma highway commission and John T. Woodruff, a Springfield attorney, led a small group of business owners who lobbied for the new federal highway from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California.
Now through 2026, the State Historical Society of Missouri will continue to add new material to Google’s site highlighting the Society’s growing collection of the towns, businesses, and attractions along Missouri’s section of Route 66. The Society collects and preserves Route 66 material such as letters, postcards, photographs, documents and other historical records from donors.
The public can learn about the activities, upcoming events, and stories commemorating Missouri’s portion of Route 66 by visiting SHSMO’s own webpage: https://shsmo.org/route66
