Route 66 History in Missouri

March 15, 1931: Celebrations in Missouri as the final section of Route 66 is paved.

It was a big party in downtown Rolla as an estimated 8,000 people turned out to commemorate the completion of Route 66 across Missouri. The “Mother Road” dates back to 1922 as Route 14, but it was more of a dirt trail in some areas. The route became a part of the National Highway System in 1926 and renamed U.S. 60. The number changed again during a meeting at the Woodruff Building in Springfield and renamed Route 66. The final section paved was between Rolla and Lebanon near the town of Arlington.

In 1989, The Route 66 Association of Missouri formed to “preserve, promote and develop” the highway that impacted America as much as any highway in history. Missouri was also the first state to put up a
historic marker on Route 66 at Kearney Street and Glenstone Avenue in Springfield to forever commemorate the Main Street of America.

The Route 66 Story

1. Origins and Significance:
   • Route 66 established on November 11, 1926. Road signs erected the following year.
   • It became one of the first national highways for motor vehicles in the United States Numbered Highway System.
   • The highway ran from Chicago through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, before terminating in Santa Monica, California.
   • The road was a total of 2,448 miles and it connected major cities and small towns along its route.
   • Route 66 symbolized American individualism, travel, and the freedom of the open road.
2. Pop Culture and Legacy:
   • The highway gained fame through the 1946 hit song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” and the TV series “Route 66” (aired from 1960 to 1964).
   • In John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath”, Route 66 represented escape, loss, and hope for a new beginning.
   • Other nicknames include the Will Rogers Highway and the Main Street of America.
   • US 66 supported the economies of the communities it passed through, especially during the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s.
3. Changes and Decommissioning:
   • Over its lifetime, Route 66 underwent several realignments.
   • It was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985 as it was replaced by segments of the Interstate Highway System.
   • Portions of the road in several states are designated a National Scenic Byway and known as “Historic Route 66”.
   • Some states have incorporated bypassed sections into their state road networks as State Route 66.
4. Missouri’s Role:
   • Missouri played a significant role in Route 66’s history.
   • The final section of Route 66 paved was between Rolla and Lebanon, near the town of Arlington.
   • In 1989, The Route 66 Association of Missouri formed to preserve and promote this historic highway.
   • Missouri was also the first state to place a historic marker on Route 66 in Springfield, forever commemorating the Main Street of America.

Route 66 was more than just a road; it represented adventure, dreams, and the spirit of exploration across America.