Route 66 turns 100 and is remembered as a linear museum across eight states

The 100th anniversary of Route 66 is being marked by museums, public art projects and centennial events along the roughly 2,400‑mile corridor, with a national kickoff set for April 29–May 3 in Springfield, Missouri.

Route 66 is marking its 100th anniversary this year, and museums and communities along the historic highway are staging exhibitions and events. The road ran roughly 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles and helped shape American road‑trip culture. Some shows highlight neon signs, drive‑ins and roadside art. Other projects explore harder histories tied to travel, segregation and everyday life along the route. Key points: - A national kickoff celebration is planned in Springfield, Missouri, from April 29 to May 3, with concerts and a parade of classic vehicles. - Museums and cultural projects from Albuquerque to Flagstaff have organized exhibitions and public art; examples include Albuquerque’s neon refurbishments and the Route 66 Remixed public art program, plus the Albuquerque Museum’s exhibition opening in June and the New Mexico Museum of Art’s “Roadside Attractions.” - Local projects aim to present fuller histories, including planned exhibits on African American experiences on the road and the role of the Green Book. - Small, local museums and visitor centers along the corridor report ongoing interest and tourism, with institutions such as the Joliet Area Historical Museum and regional Route 66 rooms drawing visitors. - Route 66’s path and official markers have changed over time; Springfield cites a 1926 telegram in its claim as the road’s birthplace, Chicago has adjusted the official starting point to Navy Pier, and the highway’s formal adoption dates to the 1920s system rollout. Summary: The centennial has prompted a range of museum exhibitions and community events that mix celebration of roadside culture with attention to the road’s complex social history. A national kickoff in Springfield will be followed by numerous local exhibitions and public projects across the eight‑state corridor through the year, reflecting both nostalgia and reassessment.