As Route 66 celebrates its 100th birthday, the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is awarding fourteen $2,500 Preservation & Economic Development (PED) Grants. Award recipients were selected from 124 submitted 2026 Route 66 PED Grant Program applications. Qualifying projects were reviewed by an independent Review Committee from across the eight Route 66 states resulting in the grant award recommendations.

Eligible activities included capital improvements, historic preservation planning or work, and accessibility or community outreach for businesses and attractions located on Route 66 that employ fewer than 20 full-time employees or are a small, locally owned franchise with five or fewer locations. Four grant awards in the PED program were designated/set aside for independent auto repair shops and mechanics along Route 66, funded by Bosch Wiper Blades. The four Bosch grant award recipients are Cranked Garage (IL), Atlas Automotive (OK), O'Brien Tire & Auto Care (IL) Downtown Service Station (MO). “Bosch Wiper Blades is proud to partner with the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership during this historic centennial year to celebrate the independent automotive businesses that have been part of the journey for generations of Route 66 travelers,” said Scott Sullivan, Bosch Senior Marketing Team Lead. “The Bosch Road Ready Grant is designed to help preserve these businesses, enhance their visibility and breathe new life into the places along the Mother Road. We’re excited to support the projects already underway and those still ahead through this partnership.”

In Illinois, three projects will benefit from the PED Grants. O’Brien Automotive, in Granite City, will use their grant award to strengthen the building’s Route 66 identity and complement its retro design, creating a more welcoming gateway for travelers. In Atlanta, Cranked Garage, LLC intends to repaint and restore the exterior of their Route 66–facing auto repair workshop, and Giants Route 66 Stop will use their grant to replace the original solid wood door with a new glass, steel-framed, commercial door for the shop that sells Route 66 souvenirs, sodas, vintage candies, t-shirts, stickers, and more.

Two motels in Missouri will receive awards for use in energy efficient building improvements. They are the iconic Shamrock Court Motel in St. Peters and the Manor Inn on Route 66 in Lebanon. Also receiving a grant in the “Show Me State” is the last full-service gas/service station still in operation on Historic Route 66 from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in California, the Downtown Service Station in Waynesville.

Oklahoma will also benefit from grants to three of their Route 66 businesses. Gasoline Alley Classics, will restore and update the historic building’s south sign that directly faces travelers in Sapulpa. Westfall Station in Chandler will modernize its outdated electrical infrastructure to safely open a new gift shop. The grant to Atlas Automotive Repair will help fund restoration of the original 1941-era gas station sign and shop exterior at 4625 E 11th St on Route 66 in Tulsa.

In New Mexico, grants will support restoration of the old neon sign at Pecos Trail Inn in Santa Fe and renovation of bathrooms that are up to city code and ADA compliant at Ricca Mercantile Community Arts Center in Gallup. The El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff served as the founding home for the US Marines Navajo Code Talkers during WWII. The $2,500 PED grant will go toward a plan to purchase the motel and restore the building’s historic exterior, convert the interior to workforce housing, add additional housing at the rear of the property, and rebuild the office to serve as a museum and community space. Also in Arizona, the Ash Fork Route 66 Historic Museum will be awarded a grant to digitize Ash Fork's irreplaceable photographs, oral histories, 2 newspapers, newsletters, and community archives to create a searchable digital collection that protects local heritage and expands access for residents, researchers, educators, Route 66 travelers, and future generations.

Additionally, a grant assists in replacing the deteriorated floor and roof of the existing washroom at Road Runner's Retreat, in Simi Valley, California. The PED Grant Program is an Official Route 66 Centennial Project as recommended by the Route 66 Centennial Commission. Future awards will be contingent on fundraising efforts for ongoing support of the Route 66 PED Grant Program that helps the millions of people who live, work, and travel the Mother Road.

One way the public may support this program is through the Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition fund raiser at https://www.route66roadahead.org/garr-2026. Established in 2016, with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments Fund, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education, and economic development.

The iconic Blue Dome building, one of Tulsa's most recognizable landmarks, will light up once again on Thursday, September 17th, at 8:00pm for the first time in decades, marking the completion of a restoration milestone and serving as a kickoff to Tulsa's annual 918 Day celebration.

Located at the SW corner of 2nd and Elgin in downtown Tulsa, the historic Blue Dome was constructed in 1925 along the original Route 66 as Tulsa’s first 24-hour gas station. A century later, the landmark is entering a new chapter as owners Chris and Jo Armstrong celebrate the completion of Phase I of an extensive restoration project. This phase included exterior brick and stone restoration, installation of new windows and doors, replacement of architectural copper elements, fresh paint on the Blue Dome itself, and a complete restoration and rewiring of the 48 lights that encircle the base of the domed roof.

“We are thrilled with the completion of the first phase of restoration at Tulsa’s historic Blue Dome building, and we hope the success of this project will encourage other businesses and property owners to take advantage of the Facade Matching Grant program,” said Greg Stone, chair of the Preservation & Design Committee with the Tulsa Route 66 Commission. “Not only does the program help preserve Tulsa’s history but also it encourages tourism and economic development that helps ensure our future.”

Thursday's event will feature the lighting of these lights for the first time since likely the 1950’s, returning a defining architectural feature to the building and bringing renewed energy to one of Tulsa's most beloved landmarks, as well as to the Blue Dome Entertainment District, which proudly carries its name.

"This lighting is more than the completion of a renovation project," said Jo Armstrong. "It is a celebration of Tulsa's history, the legacy of Route 66, and the community partnerships that help preserve these important places for future generations. We couldn’t be more excited!"

The event also serves as a kickoff to 918 Day festivities and commemorates the approaching 100th anniversary of Route 66. For more than a century, the Blue Dome has stood as a symbol of Tulsa's growth, resilience, and connection to America's most famous highway.

“Before Route 66 became a part of my life, I knew the Blue Dome,” said Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. “It was this quirky and cool spot downtown, and over the years I’ve learned that there’s truly no other building like it on Route 66. I’m so excited that this restoration work has taken place and the Dome gets to shine again as the famous highway enters its second century.”

Community members, preservation advocates, downtown business owners, Route 66 enthusiasts, and more are invited to gather at the Blue Dome at 7:30pm on Thursday, with the historic lighting taking place at 8:00pm. This community event will celebrate the continued revitalization of an iconic Tulsa landmark.

The Armstrongs extend their sincere appreciation to WWR Remodeling and architect Joel Slaughter, whose preservation experience includes the restoration of Tulsa's legendary Mayo Hotel. The Blue Dome project was supported by two preservation-focused grants: the Route 66 Façade Matching Grant Program through the City of Tulsa and the Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Fund through the National Trust for Historic Preservation, both of which aid the preservation of historic Route 66 properties and strengthen Tulsa's connection to one of America's most celebrated highways.

by Richard Stephens, Jr.

On Sept. 12, with the flick of a switch, the Western Motel’s neon sign once again blazed bright in the night on Route 66 as 50 people from Sayre’s community, Kansas and Texas cheered at its relighting. 

It was a moment that took decades to occur and did occur because Sayre’s community worked together.

Before the relighting ceremony at 8:00 p.m., Dwinna Smith of Pampa, Texas, the granddaughter of Ollie and Ruby Elliott, the original owner-operators who built Western Motel, gave examples of how she helped working summers from age 10-12. Smith booked rooms, handled telephone calls using a switchboard (moving plug-in cables) and turned on porch lights and the neon sign. Her grandparents had a bird named “Korky.” “When guests would…open the door and the bell would ring, he (Korky) would yell, ‘Ruby,’ or ‘Ollie’ and would imitate them.”

Sayre’s city manager, Ted Lawson, said it took a village to work together on the project. Individuals donated money to a “Go Fund Me” account and directly to the Patels and posted flyers around town requesting donations.         

Justin and Kimberly Harrell, co-owners of Just-In-Time Signs, are part of the village. “It took two and a half months to get it done with neon, parts and pieces and building stuff,” said Justin. He used sub-contractors to cut and shape the neon tubes and buy transformers. Just-In-Time cleaned and reskinned the porcelain sign, rewired it, replaced transformers and chaser light sockets and other work.

“It feels great to redo part of history…It makes me feel proud and all our employees are proud of what we do,” said Justin. “It’s got a few little bumps in it and a little bit of rust, but that gives it character.”

Kay Allen, Chairman of Sayre’s Dust Bowl Days Festival and a part-time Sayre employee, encouraged the crowd to send their friends to the Western Motel to give them business.

Chetan “Charley” and his wife, Chhaya Patel, today’s owners, beamed with delight after their son turned on the sign. Charley said, “We are happy and we all loved to turn the sign on. We tried from 2016 to fix the sign but didn’t have enough time and money. In 2024, we tried again.” His family is happy the Oklahoma Route 66 Association funded half of the cost. “They gave us the biggest support to turn on the sign. If they didn’t help us, I don’t think we’re going to make the sign light.”

Its name has always been Western Motel, it's always been at 315 N.E. Highway 66 and it’s always been family operated. “Ollie Elliott and his wife Ruby were the owner-operators and boasted ‘pink rock faced brick from the Hinton quarry and Bagdad rosewood trim’” when they opened it August 30, 1959, according to research from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. An article was published here here last October about fundraising efforts that went deeper into the history of the property.

Customer traffic slowed when the I-40 bypass opened in 1970 and the Elliotts sold the motel in 1974. One attendee at the sign relighting, Melinda (Mindy) Colbeit, said it was bought by Shelli Hanson about 1980 and she and her husband operated it for a while. The Route 66 Association article stated that Renee Russell and her husband purchased the motel in 1993 and Priti Patel purchased it in 2009. Charley and Chhaya bought it from Priti in 2016.

Charley said the sign was dark long before they bought the motel in 2016; it probably stopped lighting in the 1980s. The Patels wanted the neon sign repaired but replacement glass parts and labor quotes were expensive. So, they applied for a grant from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s 2024 Neon Sign Grant Program and waited. In 2025, funds became available and covered about half of the $36,000 needed. 

The Patels took action to get their distinctive sign with its attractive neon colors and running lights lit again and now it beckons tired travelers to rest there.

Experience the Mother Road by bicycle during the Route 66 Centennial with Cycle 66 on Sunday, October 4 at 7 a.m. and cover more miles of historic Route 66 than ever before. Cyclists can choose from the inaugural round-trip adventure of 100 miles to Stroud, 75 miles to Chandler, 53 miles to Wellston, 38 miles to Luther or 20 miles to Arcadia. All rides start, finish and celebrate in Downtown Edmond.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has volunteer opportunities available for this event at the Threatt Filling Station in Luther, where we are staffing a water and rest stop. Check out our VolunteerHub listing here to sign up!

“The Centennial Ride on October 4 features five routes, a free kids’ a 1-mile ride and rest stops at iconic locations to explore more miles of Route 66,” said Cycle 66 Ride Director Jason Duncan. Local police keep streets safe for cyclists.

Duncan said route details and maps be found at www.Cycle66ok.com. In 2025, Cycle 66 attracted riders from a dozen states and organizers are expecting the biggest crowd in event history to celebrate Route 66 Centennial. “2026 is what we have been working towards since Cycle 66 started five years ago,” said Jennifer Thornton, Cycle 66 Board Member and Edmond Tourism Director, “Volunteers and sponsors are ready to create a memorable event for cyclists to enjoy the sights along the Mother Road.”

In addition to the distance rides, Cycle 66 hosts fast-paced, closed-course racing through the streets of Downtown Edmond from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Crit @ Cycle 66, designated as the USA Cycling 2026 Oklahoma Criterium State Championship, is free for spectators.

“Even if you’ve never ridden a bike, the Crit @ Cycle 66 offers an exciting opportunity to see some of the region’s best cyclists pedal their way to victory,” said Tony Steward, Cycle 66 Volunteer. “It’s a fast, furious competition, and we invite the public to come cheer on the cyclists while they enjoy brunch or beer in our beautiful downtown.” 

As tour riders and crit racers cross the shared finish line on Broadway between 1st Street and Main Street, spectators can cheer from the finish line festival atmosphere while shopping and dining at Downtown Edmond businesses.

Cycle 66 donates registration fees to local charities with proceeds from the 2026 event to benefit Oklahoma Route 66 Association and YMCA. The Y will use Cycle 66 funds to support a borrow-a-bike program at the new Kupiec East Edmond YMCA opening on November 16.

General registration for Cycle 66 is $66 and includes a T-shirt. The 1-mile kids’ ride is free for kids aged 12 and under.

If you haven’t registered yet, there is still time! Choose a destination (1-mile in Edmond, 20-miles to Arcadia, 38-miles to Luther, 53-miles to Wellston, 75-miles to Chandler or 100-miles to Stroud) and make plans to join Cycle 66 for the Centennial Ride on Sunday, October 4! Then, stick around for the Crit @ Cycle 66 when riders return to Downtown Edmond.

Packet Pick Up:

Cyclists can pick up packets that include a t-shirt, commemorative ride book and water bottle at Frenzy Brewing (15 S. Broadway) on Saturday, October 3 from 11am-6pm and Sunday, October 4 starting at 6am.

Parking:

Cycle 66 participants and spectators can enjoy free public parking throughout downtown Edmond. A convenient parking map is available at www.cycle66ok.com. Entry to downtown is encouraged from the west and north.

Street Closures:

Similar to last year’s event, several streets in and around Downtown Edmond will be closed from 6pm Saturday, October 3 to 6pm, Sunday, October 4. See www.cycle66ok.com for more details.

Broadway between 2nd Street and Campbell/First Street between the railroad tracks and S. Boulevard/E. Main Street between S. Oschner Dr. and S. Boulevard/E. Hurd Street between S. Oschner Dr. and S. Boulevard/E Campbell Street located between S. Oschner Dr. and S Boulevard/Southbound Boulevard will be closed, making Boulevard a two-lane road between Campbell and First St.

Signs will be posted the week of September 27 to notify the public of the upcoming street closures. Streets will be closed by 5 a.m. on October 4. Vehicles left parked along the course will be towed.

Many folks that have made time to stop at the Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma know Mr. Sam. For the last few decades, Samuel Gillaspy has been a constant presence at Oklahoma’s famous Route 66 landmark with his cowboy hat, quick smile, and infectious energy. On August 19th, Mr. Sam passed away at 99 years of age.

When Sam was born, Route 66 wasn’t even a year old. At the age of 17, Sam enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served during World War II. “I was 17 and the United States needed men awful hard. So, I entered the Marines (enlisted on February 28, 1945, with a delayed report date) and I still had about three months of (high) school left,” Mr. Sam told Richard Stephens, Jr. in 2024 for an article in Senior News and Living. His parents gave permission to enlist and he chose the Marines because he felt they were the toughest service. He was put into active duty right after graduating and discharged in August of 1946.

Sam hired on at the Dolese cement company a few years later (a job he would hold for 40 years) and started a family in Oklahoma City. In 1961, a few years after the Turner Turnpike bypassed old Route 66, Sam bought a farm just east of Arcadia where he grew crops and tended cattle. The house he lived in was the original homesteader’s cabin from the 1889 land run, which he added to over the years. Not long after the Round Barn was restored in the 1990s, Sam started volunteering there and became a fixture for more than 20 years.

A natural storyteller and passionate volunteer, Mr. Sam became one of the Round Barn’s most beloved ambassadors. “He gave interviews to television stations and newspapers, danced the Texas Two-Step and waltz with visitors upstairs on the famous wooden dance floor, and always had another story—or colorful yarn—to share,” said Shellee Graham in a Facebook post. Shellee is an author and Route 66 historian as well as a volunteer at the Round Barn. “His love of bringing people together also extended to his Rock of Ages Farm, three miles east of Arcadia, where for nearly forty years he welcomed thousands of visitors for tours, fellowship, hayrides, and unforgettable adventures.” Sam was also President Emeritus of the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society.

In 2024, the Round Barn began a Round Barn Dance fundraiser in Mr. Sam’s name. Today, there are artifacts and photographs donated by Mr. Sam in the lower level of the barn. And it’s hard to imagine a dance taking place on that iconic second floor loft without his boots tapping along with seemingly inexhaustible joy. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association sends our condolences to his family, friends, and the countless Route 66 travelers that will never forget him.

by Rhys Martin

In 1940, the City of Bristow passed an unusual ordinance. It declared it unlawful for any public eating establishment within town limits to serve a glass of water to a patron without also serving them one peanut in the shell. Violations would incur a fine ranging from fifty cents to five dollars.

What in the world? Did that really happen? The short answer is: yes.

For a decade prior, the local Chamber had been trying to convince local farmers to convert their cotton fields to peanuts. A local business owner announced he would build a peanut shelling plant in early 1940 and city leaders saw the opportunity they had been waiting for.

As an advertising stunt, Bristow passed an ordinance aimed at promoting themselves as the top regional peanut producer. The Chamber of Commerce provided local cafes with single shelled peanuts in little cellophane wrappers, which also included a copy of the ordinance. The Bristow Daily Record even added Peanut Capital of the Southwest to the front page of the newspaper.

The effort caught the attention of folks from around the country, with stories popping up in national newspapers and periodicals like Newsweek. Not everyone was pleased with the town’s new goobernative policy. Some restaurants complained about the peanut shells that found their way to the floor and said they didn’t have the staff to keep it clean. But tourists that came through Bristow, having read about the legislation, demanded their peanut if they weren’t provided one. One man from Maine even sent a letter to the Chamber of Commerce directly to have a peanut posted to him because one was not provided during a visit.

Two years later, Ripley’s Believe It or Not featured it in a comic, which was syndicated around the country, and interest spiked again. Traveling circuses like Ringling Brothers said that their elephants were especially keen on legumes from Creek County. The Bristow Chamber held a meeting to determine if they should restart enforcement of the law, claiming that one arrest had been made over it, resulting in a waitress shelling out two quarters to pay the fine.

After about a decade, the peanut business in Bristow cracked. The crops dwindled and the law was officially rescinded. The law continued to show up now and again in stories about quirky, nonsense legislation. In 1980, forty years after the original ordinance was passed, Billy Carter came to Bristow to campaign on behalf of his father for President. The city, again seeing an opportunity, revived the spirit of the quirky law and presented him with a glass of water and a peanut in honor of Jimmy Carters peanut farming legacy.

Today, the Bristow Train Depot and Museum has a little display about the law – complete with packaged peanut. As far as the Oklahoma Route 66 Association is aware, there is no other formal marker or reference to the city’s one-time claim to fame…but perhaps that will change someday. Fun and unique ideas are a big part of the Route 66 experience…especially if they are a little nuts.

You can see a trailer for the new film below.

Crossroads of America, a new feature-length documentary that celebrates the places and the history that shaped the Mother Road in Oklahoma, marks the Centennial of the famous highway by talking to people throughout the state that are involved with the road’s ongoing legacy. From legacy business owners to preservation advocates to state leaders, people highlight Oklahoma’s place into the road’s overall story.

In addition to the screening on Oklahoma public television, theatrical showings have been lined up for the Tee Pee Drive-In in Sapulpa and the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. Tickets are free. Get more information about these screenings and future plans at https://www.crossroadsok66.com/.

This article is one of several included in the Spring Edition of The Chronicles of Oklahoma, which you can see in its entirety here.

Sending postcards back home to friends and family is a simple joy. It may feel a little old-fashioned in today’s digital world, but there’s nothing like getting a piece of physical mail that someone took the time to literally write out and drop in a postbox. Plus, the postcard itself shares a little bit of the place it came from. Most postcards feature a photograph or collage of pictures on the front, but my favorite ones feature artwork. It’s a melding of reality and interpretation.

When I first started exploring Route 66, I noticed a commonality among many gift shops: a particular kind of postcard with beautifully detailed, pen-and-ink hand-drawn depictions of roadside landmarks and natural wonders. I finally asked someone about the artwork and they said proudly, “That’s Bob Waldmire’s work!”

“Who is Bob Waldmire?” I wondered.

That’s an answer that is still unfolding before me after more than a decade of exposure to Route 66 culture and countless trips between Chicago and Santa Monica.

Robert Waldmire was born on April 19th, 1945, in St. Louis, Missouri. Some people knew him as the owner of the Hackberry General Store in Arizona; other people knew him as the inspiration behind the character Fillmore in Pixar’s Cars film franchise. Others knew Bob as a constant presence at festivals, events, and gatherings. But it took more than 40 years for him to embrace Route 66 in a way that would tie him forever to the road’s enduring legacy. He was an artist first and had already amassed quite a body of work by the time he started taking his Volkswagen van on trips down the Mother Road.

In truth, Bob’s connection to Route 66 starts with his father.

Ed Waldmire, Jr., the family patriarch, is credited with inventing the corn dog. He was visiting family in Muskogee, Oklahoma in the early 1940s when he had a batter-covered frankfurter. It was baked and, to Ed, was missing something. He tinkered with ideas while serving in the Army Air Corps in Amarillo, Texas and eventually settled on deep-frying them on a stick. They were an immediate hit on base and when Ed returned home to Springfield, Illinois, he opened the Cozy Dog Drive-In right on Route 66. It’s still operating today.

Bob wasn’t too interested in the family business. He would work there on-and-off over the years, but he was much more interested in exploring the world around him. "We lived two miles north of the Cozy Dog on South Sixth Street," Bob told Route 66 advocate Tom Teague in 1998. "A couple of blocks from us, there was a vacant lot. I would go over there, usually by myself, and poke around under the cardboard and tin, looking for little snakes, spiders, and other critters. At home, Mom would allow me to keep them in the back yard in boxes." When Bob was about 11, the family bought a farm in nearby Rochester and his fascination with the natural world deepened.

Bob’s brother, Buz, recalled that their mother encouraged his creativity from an early age. He wasn’t the only one, either. “My oldest brother, Bill, was also drawing. It kind of runs in the family but Bill ended up working for the state and letting that go. Bob never really had a regular job.” When Bob was a senior in high school, the Waldmires took a family trip to Arizona. He fell in love with the desert immediately, and after graduating he went back to the Grand Canyon State to enroll in summer classes. However, his initial foray into the southwest didn’t last long. He returned home to Illinois, working sporadically at the Cozy Dog while taking botany courses at the local community college. It was during this time that he really began to lean in to art as a form of expression.

"I started when I was in high school by lettering menus," Bob continued in his 1998 interview. "I found it gratifying to have my work seen. Later I painted billboards and other signs. My first ones were crude and amateurish, but Dad was not concerned about the level of competency. I have a good eye and a steady hand and in time I became quite good." In 1970, Bob created and sold a birds-eye map of Springfield, Illinois and realized that it was his true calling.

The next year, Bob further embraced his love of the natural lifestyle by becoming a hippie and a vegetarian. That didn’t mesh very well roadside corn dogs. This conflict with his personal beliefs, combined with his wanderlust and growing interest in sketching the world around him, led him back to the road.

Bob would drive from town to town in his 1965 Mustang and set down for a few months. He’d learn about each community, sketch a panoramic poster of the town, and sell it along with his other artwork for pennies, just enough to fill the gas tank. Then he’d hit the road and do the same thing elsewhere. As he honed his skills, his work got denser, tinier, and more detailed. And it set a pace that determined the course of his life.

In Bob’s own words: “Small is beautiful. Slow is beautiful. Old is beautiful.”

After about a year of this, Bob realized his sports car didn’t fit with this nomadic way of living. He traded it in for a Volkswagen station wagon, which also served as his traveling home. This lasted for more than a decade before he traded up to a 1972 Volkswagen camper van. The orange-and-white vehicle would become an extension of Bob himself. He drove east and west across the country, sketching wildlife, cityscapes, and small businesses. Buz Waldmire, one of Bob’s brothers, remembered, “Dad convinced Bob he needed to draw a poster that would appeal to a lot more people than just a city.” So, Bob’s subjects expanded to entire states and regions.

Pro-environment messages would be tucked into larger drawings, such as condemning New Mexico’s role in nuclear energy or decrying inhumane treatment of coyotes in Silver City, Nevada. In time, Bob would create posters for more than thirty towns across fifteen states.

It wasn’t until 1987, two years after Route 66 was federally de-certified, that Bob truly connected with the Mother Road. He was making his way back to Illinois and there was a traffic jam on the interstate. On a whim, he took an off-ramp onto Historic Route 66. The allure of the old highway quickly took hold. “Back on 66, there was this bump-ba-bump-ba-bump as I drove over the poured concrete slabs - a feeling of being closer to the land and nature,” Bob explained in 1998. “Within a few miles, the light bulb lit that I should make a map about the road." He called it A Nostalgic, Bioregionally-flavored Bird’s-Eye-View Map of Old Route 66. “[Bob] told me personally it would take about four months to put that together and finish it,” said Buz Waldmire. It ended up taking more than four years!

At the same time Bob was turning his artistic attention to the old highway, there was tremendous progress in recognizing Route 66 as a historic treasure. Angel Delgadillo, a barber from Seligman, Arizona (who coincidentally also celebrated his birthday on April 19th), successfully lobbied the state legislature to designate a stretch of the road as historic. He also helped found the first statewide Route 66 Association. Within two years, all eight states would have their own Association dedicated to preserving the road for future generations. Only one state, Oklahoma, formed their Route 66 Association at the behest of the state government. Also that same year, an old school bus in Grants, New Mexico caught Bob’s eye and he bought it with plans to turn it into a mobile home and studio.

In the spring of 1989, the State of Oklahoma signed into law a resolution directing multiple state agencies to study Old Route 66 and direct the creation of a private non-profit dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the historic road. In the early stages of that work, the state reached out to Bob to create artwork for this new promotional focus. “I just got a call from [the Department of Tourism] in OKC,” Bob wrote in a letter on June 1st of that year. “About doing some work for [them.] He was asked to sketch “sites of interest” along the old road in the Sooner State, which would be used in travel brochures and decorative posters.

For the whole month of November, Bob lived in Oklahoma City and sketched about 40 drawings from the Will Rogers Office Building at the Capitol. These drawings would be used extensively for many years and can still be found on postcards and posters along the route today. He would also take excursions around the metro. On Thanksgiving, he visited the Oklahoma City National Stockyards. Among the human absence of the holiday and a few roosting pigeons, he noted a handful of pigs and lamented their fate. “Perhaps they’re wondering why they’re still here…nothing I can do to tell them how sorry I am, how I wish I could help them,” he wrote at the time.

The full sketch of the entire route that Bob dreamed of in 1987 was finally completed in 1992. The map - which spanned ten pages AND a six page legend - was more than just the road. It included landmarks, geologic formations, flora, and fauna. It was tremendously detailed and it awakened a desire within the artist to be a part of the road’s linear community himself.

Dreams of heading back west on 66 became a reality when Bob bought an old grocery store in Hackberry, Arizona that had been vacant for more than a decade. Like many sites on old Highway 66, it was abandoned after the town was bypassed by Interstate 40. He turned it into the “International Bioregional Route 66 Visitor’s Center” and a landmark for a small but growing audience of travelers and fans of the road.

The station during Bob’s tenure was also a collection of his passions. His artwork was available in the form of posters and postcards. His father’s book collection was on display as was a great number of natural displays. It was as full of as much meticulous detail as his drawings were. The station became a popular stop for the growing numbers of international travelers that were looking to experience America of the 20th Century. In his annual Dispatch letter from 1994, Bob wrote, “Visitors from 37 nations have signed the visitor registers here. Route 66 is no trivial destination.”

Back in Illinois, the Chevrolet school bus that Bob had purchased back in 1987 was finally complete. He had successfully converted it into a unique mobile home with a wooden second story added to it complete with sun deck. It also included solar panels, a porch, a rainwater collector, and a self-composting toilet. It was pure Bob Waldmire. And in September of 1995, it made the trip out to Hackberry.

And, yet, Bob’s insatiable wanderlust and connection to nature pulled at him. His occasional trips down to the Chiricahua Mountains for rest and relaxation provided a stark contrast from the busy-and-getting-busier activity on Route 66. The opening of a rock quarry near the General Store was the last straw. After six years rooted in Hackberry, Bob sold the property. He drove his ‘Land Yacht’ school bus back to Illinois where he planned to write a book about his father’s life. But he was already looking forward to a return to the desert and the secluded Chiricahuas.

In fact, some of Bob’s materials from the general store went south to the town of Portal immediately after selling Hackberry. Eventually, his homestead there would include a trailer home, wind turbines, a water reclamation system, and more “off-the-grid” amenities. He even brought a 1930s-era outhouse intact from Hackberry. “It was very isolated, on the way to nowhere,” said Johnnie Meier, preservationist and neon enthusiast. “Which is exactly what he wanted. He had aspirations to turn his property into a wildlife park.” Always the gentle soul, if Bob encountered a rattlesnake while he was working, he would simply place them in a cage for the duration and put them back exactly where he found them when he was finished.

Leaving his spot on Route 66 didn’t sever Bob’s connection to the community – if anything, it strengthened it. He continued to travel Route 66 back and forth selling his wares with “many happy 66 reunions” between Illinois and California. One reunion was quite unexpected. On a trip through El Reno, Oklahoma, he saw a 1965 Mustang Fastback for sale…just like the one he’d sold as a young man. Acknowledging the paradoxical nature of owning a sports car (again) with being environmentally conscious, he bought it anyway.  But, as his brother Buz remembered, “He really didn’t like people who drove too fast […] He liked to drive at sub-lethal speeds, so he wouldn’t kill butterflies that would hit his windshield.”

If you talk to people that were a part of the roadie family back then, most of them have a story of encountering Bob at an event or out on the road. “I remember one late night, Denny's was the only late night restaurant in Holbrook,” remembered Cindy Jaquez, owner of the Jackrabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Arizona. “We went in at almost midnight and there was Bob sitting alone…working on his art for some business. He was a great friend.” Trond Moberg, who served as President of the Norwegian Route 66 Association and led groups of travelers for many years, recalled, “When I was on tour and spotted Bob’s Volkswagen bus outside Denny’s, I usually stopped for a chat. During one four month season I met him at Denny’s in Tucumcari, Winslow, Kingman and Flagstaff. In Tucumcari I took the whole group of 32 motorcycles to Denny’s for lunch and Bob had a show and tell outside his bus. I remember he sold lots of postcards.”

One occasion stands out to author and historian Michael Wallis. He had stopped at the ghost town of Glenrio, which straddles the Texas and New Mexico state line. Tiny vehicles zooming past on Interstate 40 in the distance are typically the only sign of life at this once-bustling border crossing. But on this day, something else stirred.

I pulled in on my Harley for the usual inspection of derelict buildings. When I walked back to my bike, I thought I heard…laughter. Coming to me on the breeze. I stopped, listened again, and heard more. It sounded like someone was conversing and seemed to be having a good time. It came from down where the old road is full of weeds and broken up, that goes westward into New Mexico. So I walked over this little hillock, and I saw my old pal, Bob Waldmire. Bob was wearing his usual bandana tied around his head, a pair of baggy cargo shorts, and sandals. And he was lying prone on his back! He was holding above him, what appeared to be a fairly good-sized desert tortoise. The tortoise looked like it was fairly content. Bob was talking to the tortoise, and every once in a while, he’d give it a laugh. They were in deep conversation. My inclination was to go down and see my old buddy, but then I thought about it. I thought, ‘You know what? I’m not going to intrude.’ I told myself I was going to look at it, and memorize it, and take off. I always have that image of Bob and that tortoise; it’s always there in my mind whenever I want to pull it up. And I always smile.

Even the crew at Pixar Animation Studios was impressed with Bob’s story and his presence on the route. When they were creating the movie Cars, they asked him if they could name their hippie Volkswagen bus character after him; after all, he was the direct inspiration! Bob, still a strict vegetarian, didn’t want his name to be tied with any kind of fast-food merchandising…so he declined. But there was no bad blood; in fact, Bob would later make a drawing of his famous camper van meeting Fillmore of Radiator Springs somewhere on old Route 66.

Things seemed to be on the upward swing for Bob and his craft. He continued creating new art, capturing historic sites, small-town life, and all manner of natural wonder. He created a new color map of Route 66 and put together an entire calendar dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Ford Mustang. At the International Route 66 Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2004, Bob was awarded the Steinbeck Award for his years of advocacy. He had his first formal art show at Clinton’s Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in the summer of 2006; people came from all over to see Bob and check out his latest work. His Mustang was on display in the museum, too, which by then featured a beautiful mural map of Route 66 down the hood stripe complete with hundreds of signatures from across the road. In his 2006 Dispatch, Bob called the show the “crowning glory” of his artistic career.

But the people that knew him best began to see a change in him. Something wasn’t right; Bob was sick. He knew it. But he had decided to approach it the same way he had approached the rest of his life: with peace, strength, and quiet grace. He let it take its course and continued with the itinerant life he loved. He bought a retired U-Haul truck and painted a mural on the side with a plan to raise money by selling it. He continued to build out his homestead in Portal, Arizona. And, still, he created new sketches of the world around him.

In October of 2009, Bob finally made a public announcement: he had cancer. By that time it had spread throughout his body; his time was almost at an end. A month later, Bob’s Last Art Show took place at the Cozy Dog in Springfield, Illinois. People came from as far away as Japan to see him one last time. They expressed their love for a man that had become as much a part of Route 66 as the pavement itself. Bob wasn’t sad; he was grateful.

On December 16th, 2009, Bob passed away peacefully. He was 64.

Per his wishes, his ashes were spread at multiple sites across the country, including several along Route 66. Laurel Kane, a Route 66 advocate and business owner in Afton, Oklahoma, was a dear friend of Bob’s and one of the recipients of his ashes. On a breezy October afternoon, Laurel and her family went out to the side of the old road itself and let Bob’s cremains scatter to the wind. The wayward artist and conservationist from the Land of Lincoln had become a part of road itself, returned to the earth that he respected so dearly.

Bob Waldmire’s legend continues to grow more than a decade after his death.

The Cozy Dog Drive-In in Illinois still sells his artwork, both locally and wholesale to shops up and down the road. The Route 66 Museum in Pontiac, Illinois is the home of his beloved Volkswagen camper and his converted school bus. The Hackberry General Store, more of a traditional gift shop these days, still welcomes legions of travelers. Bob’s murals are still visible on walls throughout the Route 66 corridor. And, if you look closely at some newer works, you may see a small, bearded hippie standing around or an orange Volkswagen van zipping around.

The U-Haul truck Bob was working on never sold – in fact, it was still technically still owned by Ken Clark of Tulsa, a friend that had been helping him install his wind turbine system in Arizona. After Bob’s passing, Ken donated the truck to the Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma…but they didn’t have room for it. It made a trek up to Afton, Oklahoma and was on display there for years as part of Laurel Kane’s Packard museum. After Laurel passed, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association took possession of the truck, and they are working to restore it to running order for the Centennial in 2026.

Every day, people from around the world come to Route 66 to experience the story of America. Although they will never get a chance to meet Bob Waldmire in the flesh, they will come to know him by his work and the stories that are still told of an incredible human being that loved the journey more than the destination.

The next time you’re cruising the old two-lane and see a turtle trying to cross, pull over and give him a helping hand. Think of Bob and the closing words to many of his hand-written letters:

“For the Earth.”

On August 29, Enric Casacuberta, a 61-year-old from Catalonia, Spain, will begin a run of the entire length of Historic Route 66, covering 2,445 miles from Chicago’s Navy Pier to Santa Monica’s Pier to raise funds and awareness for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The initiative, Route 66 for ALS, will take Casacuberta across eight states over approximately 150 days—the equivalent of 93 marathons. He is scheduled to depart from Navy Pier in Chicago and finish at the Santa Monica Pier in California in late January. The run is part of the international celebration of the upcoming centennial of Route 66 and is currently the only official centennial project organized outside the United States.

Casacuberta, a longtime admirer of Route 66, has traveled the historic highway three times, exploring different sections on each visit. As preparations began for the road's 100th anniversary, he wanted to commemorate its legacy with a challenge worthy of its history while supporting a cause with personal significance.

Years ago, one of Casacuberta's close friends died from ALS. More recently, he was inspired by the advocacy of former Spanish soccer goalkeeper Juan Carlos Unzué, who has become one of Europe's leading voices calling for greater research funding and support for people living with the disease. Although he had never been a runner before committing to the project, Casacuberta spent years preparing for the challenge.

"Route 66 has always represented hope and new beginnings," Casacuberta said. "If this journey can help bring hope to families affected by ALS and contribute to finding a cure, every mile will be worthwhile."

Organizers hope the run will raise funds for ALS research while drawing international attention to a disease that remains fatal and has no cure.

Throughout the journey, supporters will be able to follow Casacuberta's daily progress, community events, and fundraising efforts as he crosses Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The schedule, which is subject to change depending on conditions on the ground, should have him coming into Oklahoma in mid-October. You can stay up-to-date on his progress at https://runroute66forals.org/en/.

In addition to the website, linked above, you can learn more through the event’s Instagram account and this Oklahoma Today interview from earlier this year.

A collection of artwork from seven Urban Sketchers Chapters from across the Route 66 corridor has arrived in Tulsa and will be traveling along the road for the rest of the Centennial year.

Urban Sketchers is a non-profit community that brings artists together for on-location drawing activities. They have chapters all over the world and encourage their members to “be truthful to the scenes [they] witness.” You can see some examples from their global sketchbook here. Last year, the Tulsa chapter of USk had a Route 66 showcase with about 100 pieces, which also included work from sketchers in Oklahoma City, Chicago, and Springfield, IL. The experience inspired them to think bigger for the Centennial.

Connie McFarland, one of the founders of Tulsa’s USk chapter in 2019, began reaching out to other chapters across the historic highway. Through this collaborative effort, the new exhibit also includes work from St. Louis, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Los Angeles. The project inspired some sketchers to travel to parts of Route 66 they hadn’t seen before and then capture them artistically.

The art exhibit, which includes more than 300 sketches, is on display now at Tulsa Community College’s McKeon Creativity Center downtown and will remain until August 25th; admission is free. An artist reception is taking place on August 14th from 5 to 7 PM. In September and October, it will be on display at the Edmond History Museum and during the holidays it will be off-route in Norman, Oklahoma. It will also travel to Springfield, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois.

You can see some of the work and more details about the organization in a TulsaPeople article here.

‍One hundred years after Route 66 first connected communities across America, a new feature-length documentary invites audiences to discover the people and places keeping its story alive.

ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA, a documentary by award-winning filmmaker John Paget, begins its Roadshow on September 1, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, the starting point of Route 66. This rolling premiere will travel more than 2,400 miles through the eight Route 66 states, concluding in Los Angeles, California, November 7, 2026.

The Main Street of America Roadshow will bring the film directly to the communities that define Route 66. Each stop will center around a screening followed by live conversations with Paget and people featured in the film, offering audiences an opportunity to connect with the stories shaping Route 66 today.

Official Trailer for the film.

ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA is a centennial portrait that travels the Mother Road, revealing a modern revival. From unexpected roadside attractions to revitalized main streets, each encounter reveals communities finding new life and purpose—making new history—proving the most meaningful journeys often unfold on the road less traveled. 

Explore the depths with deep sea divers in a desert oasis. Meet a family in Luther, Oklahoma, restoring one of America’s earliest Black-owned gas stations. Mix with a couple who decided it was high time someone made bourbon in a town called Bourbon. Find trees made from bottles. And a ghost town that somehow became a flower farm.

Whether you’ve driven Route 66 or only imagined it, this film takes you there to meet the everyday heroes that are bringing motels, diners, theaters and souvenir shops, filling stations, a prison, and a steam train— quirky landmarks and hidden gems—back to life. An immersive, heartfelt portrait of this American icon emerges full of humor, warmth, and discovery.

“Route 66 has always been about more than pavement—it’s about people,” said John Paget, director of ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA. “Route 66 is not simply about what has been preserved. It’s about what people are still building. In every town, we met people who believe history is more than something to remember—it’s something that inspires what comes next.”

As Route 66 celebrates its centennial, the film looks beyond nostalgia to explore the resilience, creativity, and determination of the people carrying America’s Main Street forward.

“My hope is that this film inspires people to see Route 66 as a story still being written,” said Paget. “The next chapter will be shaped by the people who believe these places—and these stories—still matter.”

Designated an Official Project of the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, the film has garnered support from national and community partners committed to preserving, celebrating, and promoting The Main Street of America.

Bill Thomas, Chair of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and Commissioner for the Route 66 Centennial Commission said, “One of the greatest challenges facing Route 66 isn't preserving its past—it’s inspiring the people who will protect its future. This documentary does both.”

Rhys Martin, Preserve Route 66 Manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservation said, "Route 66 has always connected people and communities, so it's fitting that this documentary will be experienced the same way—one town at a time. Following every screening, filmmaker John Paget and folks featured in the film will hold live Q&A sessions where people can share their own memories, perspectives, and hopes for the future.

“When the road celebrates 200 years, people won't just want to know the road's origin story—they'll want to know how people engaged with it at this historic moment. The roadshow will capture that living history while reminding audiences that every generation has a role to play in the future of Route 66. That's what makes this such a special project; it's not just preserving what's come before but inviting the public to become stewards of the road's ongoing story."

2026 Route 66 Centennial Roadshow

The ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA Centennial Roadshow will bring the documentary directly to the communities that have shaped the history—and continue shaping the story—of Route 66. Beginning September 1 in Chicago and concluding November 7 in Los Angeles, the Roadshow will feature more than 40 screening events across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Oklahoma screening dates are as follows, with tickets on sale now:

September 18 - Circle Cinema in Tulsa (Oklahoma State Premiere)
September 19 - Coleman Theatre in Miami
September 20 - Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore
September 21 - H&S Theater in Chandler
September 22 - TeePee Drive-In in Sapulpa
September 23 - Rodeo Cinema in Oklahoma City
September 24 - Centre Theatre in El Reno

For the complete screening schedule and ticket information, visit: www.MainStreetofAmerica.com

The Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) announced yesterday that Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger in Miami, Oklahoma has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the country’s official list of properties significant in our past.

Waylan’s Ku Ku Burger, located in downtown Miami, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its historical significance as a commercial development along historic Route 66. The Ku-Ku’s Googie-styled architecture has been a mainstay in Miami since its opening in 1965 and is indicative of commercial buildings designed to attract the attention of passing motorists with bold colors, swooping roofline, and neon signs.

Waylan’s is the last survivor of the Ku Ku chain that once boasted over 200 locations across the Midwest. It is still fully operational, with owner Eugene Waylan manning the grill and selling delicious burgers and shakes, as he has for the last 50+ years. The Ku-Ku opened in April of 1966; Gene Waylan purchased it in 1973.

“For long-time Route 66ers in Oklahoma, Gene Waylan is not a stranger,” said Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. “He’s been a member of the Association since 1990 and his unique building is a popular stop in northeast Oklahoma. When we repainted the nearby Allen’s Fillin’ Station in Commerce and grabbed lunch for our volunteers at Waylan’s, he gave us a handful of keychains for our volunteers. It’s a simple thing, but it shows that he really cares about the community and his place on the highway.”

Discussions are underway for a formal ceremony sometime next month; the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will announce such an event as it comes together.

Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is an honorific designation that provides recognition, limited protection, and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties. The SHPO identifies, evaluates, and nominates properties for this special designation. The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.

For generations of Americans, Route 66 represents freedom and the open road. But long before the "Mother Road" was ever paved, the land it runs through was Cherokee land, and the communities along it were Cherokee communities.

In July, the Cherokee Nation is premiering a new Route 66-themed episode of their monthly streaming program "ᏣᎳᎩ: Wherever We Are" – well-timed as Season 6, Episode 6. A special virtual event has been created for the premiere on YouTube on Saturday, July 25, at noon CT.

“As the United States celebrates the Route 66 Centennial, this conversation offers the perspective that too often gets left out — the Cherokee story of a road that was built through our homeland, without our input, during one of the most difficult chapters in our history,” the Cherokee Nation said in a press release. “And the story of how, like so many times before, our people adapted, endured, and made it their own.”

This episode features Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, historian and Cultural Tourism Exhibits Manager Karen Shade-Lanier, former Tribal Councilor Keith Austin, and former Oklahoma State Representative, Mayor of Vinita, and Tribal Councilor Chuck Hoskin. Together, they'll explore the Cherokee communities that existed along Route 66 long before the highway arrived — places like Vinita, Claremore, Chelsea, Catoosa, and Adair — what the road's designation meant during the allotment era, and how Cherokee heritage continues to shape the experience of Route 66 today.

“Whether you're a Cherokee citizen, a traveler on the Mother Road, or someone who believes the full story of this landmark deserves to be told, this conversation offers history, perspective, and pride in the resilience of the Cherokee people, wherever we are.”

You can RSVP today to receive the premiere link on the morning of the event at the following link:

https://events.cherokeesatlarge.org/route-66-gen?utm_source=ad_meta_lba_list_route_66-p3-h3-d3-i3-20260715&utm_medium=ad

If anyone has questions or needs help signing up, you can email them directly at  info@cherokeesatlarge.org. Dozens of previously produced episodes are available on their YouTube channel here.

CLINTON, OKLAHOMA – The bi-annual Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame ceremony is set for July 25th in Clinton, Oklahoma – and with the famous highway turning 100 years old this year, it’s going to be bigger than ever in more ways than one.

Every two years, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association inducts two members into the Hall of Fame - one living and one posthumously - which are traditionally revealed at the ceremony itself. This year, the Hall of Fame committee also selected a special Centennial inductee to recognize their impact on the road leading up to the anniversary: Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell.

"It is an honor for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association to recognize Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell as a 2026 Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame recipient," said Beth Hilburn, Eastern Vice President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. "His continued support for preserving and promoting the Mother Road has made a lasting impact on communities across Oklahoma. Through his leadership and dedication to tourism and economic development, he has helped ensure that Route 66 remains a driving force for our state's future."

That’s not the only thing that will be different in 2026. The induction ceremony usually takes place at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, which houses the Hall of Fame. Director Cory Cart felt that something bigger was warranted for this year’s special occasion: the ceremony will take place at the Frisco Conference Center.

"The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is proud to be the permanent home of the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame, but this year's Centennial celebration simply outgrew our campus," Cart said. "Moving the ceremony to a larger venue allows more people to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime anniversary while ensuring a more comfortable experience for everyone. After the Centennial, we're excited to partner with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association to build on this momentum and evolve the Hall of Fame ceremony in preparation for the next 100 years."

The Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame has been inducting members since 1994 and has included notable Oklahomans like Michael Wallis, Will Rogers, and Blaine Davis. This year’s ceremony will begin at 1:00 PM at the Frisco Conference Center, 101 S 4th Street in Clinton, Oklahoma. More information will be available at our official event listing here.

On June 18th, a new granite historical marker was unveiled in Wellston, Oklahoma for the Will Rogers Highway. It’s the first new marker in the series since one was installed in Afton nearly fifteen years ago.

US Highway 66 was given the Will Rogers Highway nickname in 1935, shortly after the famous actor and humorist died in a plane crash. The road was already becoming an American icon, much like Rogers, and its path symbolized his journey from Oklahoma to California. In the late 1990s, Darrell Ray of Joplin resurrected the original logo and worked with Willis Granite in southwestern Oklahoma to create a historical marker in Vinita. Wellston’s new marker is the eleventh marker in this series which covers Oklahoma, southeast Kansas, and southwest Missouri.

“For the Centennial of Route 66, we wanted to pay tribute to all of its eras,” said Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. “Will Rogers is still Oklahoma’s Favorite Son and we felt it was time for a new marker that not only kept his legacy going, but also told the story of how the citizens of Wellston came together to advocate for their town.” The Oklahoma Route 66 Association received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and several individual donations to help with the cost of the marker.

The text on the marker tells the story of the infamous ‘Wellston Gap’ and how the highway was re-routed to exclude the town’s Main Street. The citizens banded together to ensure that they weren’t forgotten and that the original alignment of the road was paved and that they were still recognized. That segment was the first part of the highway in Oklahoma designated as Oklahoma State Highway 66, and when the rest of Route 66 became a state highway, it became the only Highway 66b in the country.

The unveiling of the marker was timed to coincide with the arrival of the Route 66 Centennial Caravan, an eastbound cruise from Santa Monica to Chicago celebrating preservation projects and highlighting the road’s evolving story for its 100 year anniversary. Jennifer Rogers, Will’s great-granddaughter, was also present to mark the occasion along with scores of locals. There was also a special Will Rogers Highway postmark cancellation stamp available.

The next time you’re in Wellston, stop on the east side of town near the Butcher BBQ Stand and YaYa’s Matchstick Collectibles, check out the new marker, and take note of Will’s quote at the bottom:

“People are marvelous in their generosity if they just know the cause is there.”

If you’d like to get one of the special postmark cancellations, you can send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Wellston Post Office until July 18th:

Will Rogers Highway Station Postmaster
401 2nd Street, Wellston OK 74881

Applications for the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership's 2026 Preservation and Economic Development Grant Program open on Thursday, July 2nd. The grant program is an official Route 66 Centennial Activity, as designated by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.

The program assists businesses and attractions along historic Route 66 that are seeking to remain in operation, reopen, preserve and restore historic properties, improve visitor experiences, expand services, or launch new ventures that contribute to the vitality of Route 66 communities.

The 2026 grant cycle will award $35,000 in funding with 24 grants of up to $2,500 available to eligible applicants. American Express funds 10 of the grants available. Four grants are specifically designated for independent auto repair shops and mechanics operating along Route 66 with funding provided by Bosch Wiper Blades.

"The businesses and attractions that line Route 66 are the backbone of the visitor experience and play an essential role in preserving the road's unique history and sense of place," said Bill Thomas, Chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and Commissioner of the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. "These grants help ensure that the people and places that make Route 66 special can continue to serve their communities and welcome travelers for generations to come."

Eligible applicants include independently owned businesses and attractions physically located on a Route 66 alignment or operating within a Route 66 community. Funding can be used for a variety of projects, including equipment purchases, building repairs, signage restoration, accessibility improvements, website upgrades, marketing initiatives, workforce development, sustainability efforts, and historic preservation projects that maintain the integrity of Route 66 landmarks.

Preference is given to small, independently owned businesses and attractions that contribute to the history, identity, and cultural significance of their communities, particularly those located in historic buildings or serving historically underserved populations.

Applications are reviewed by an independent grant review committee comprised of representatives from across the Route 66 corridor.

Applications are accepted from July 2. Businesses and attractions can review eligibility requirements and program guidelines and apply at https://route66centennial.org/index.php/commemorate-programs-projects/preservation-development-grants.

A national Route 66 Beef Trail has been established and is encouraging Route 66 travelers to visit various locations along the Mother Road this summer.

As summer road trip season kicks into high gear, The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand—funded by Beef farmers and ranchers—is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a flavorful new way to experience the Mother Road. The Route 66 Beef Trail has a free, mobile‑exclusive digital passport that guides road trippers to legendary steakhouses, barbecue joints, cultural attractions and beef‑rich history across all eight Route 66 states. Along the way travelers can check in at participating stops, earn prizes and discover the how America’s most storied highway is deeply rooted in the nation’s beef heritage.

The trail covers all eight states from Illinois to California and features eleven stops in Oklahoma. After signing up, visitors receive a mobile pass via text or email—no app required. At each participating restaurant or attraction, simply show your phone to redeem deals, learn about local beef heritage, and collect points toward exclusive Route 66 Beef Trail rewards.

“Along the way, travelers can enjoy everything from classic diners and historic stockyards to modern barbecue favorites and iconic roadside eateries,” said a press release. “Stops span all eight Route 66 states—Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California—offering a curated lineup of beef hotspots and cultural landmarks that capture the spirit of the open road.”

Participants who check in at designated locations can earn commemorative stickers, collectible merchandise, Route 66-themed gear and entries into grand-prize drawings. No purchase is necessary to participate.

To learn more and plan your own journey, visit the Route 66 Beef Trail home page.

Have you ever seen a Pictorial Postmark? On special occasions, the United States Postal Service can offer unique, commemorative cancellation stamps, or postmarks, at specific post offices to help celebrate local events and dates of significance. The Centennial of Route 66 is just such an occasion and multiple postmarks are being offered at various times this year.

Inspired by a postmark offered in Seligman, Arizona, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association began working with the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma earlier in 2026 to create a Will Rogers Highway postmark. It will be offered in Wellston, Oklahoma on June 18th at the unveiling of a new Will Rogers Highway granite marker. The marker will be unveiled at 3402 U.S. Route 66 in Wellston - just before the Y of Highway OK-66b if you’re heading west - in collaboration with the Butcher BBQ Stand restaurant and Yaya’s Matchstick Collectibles. A temporary postal station will be set up for the event itself, which starts at about 11:15 AM as the Route 66 Centennial Caravan arrives from Oklahoma City.

Additionally, the town of Erick, Oklahoma has created a special commemorative postmark for the Centennial that will be available starting on July 7th. This will be available for 30 days at the town’s post office. Advocates in the city of Tulsa are also working to get a special Centennial postmark later this year; more details to come.

If you cannot attend an event in person but you wish to get the postmark, anyone can submit a mail order request. To do so, you must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the offering post office. It’s also a good idea to insert a letter, a postcard, or another item inside the self-addressed envelope to ensure its sturdiness as it comes back to you. Be sure you address your external envelope to PICTORIAL POSTMARK along with the post office address. We recommend using one of the new Route 66 stamps, of course!

You can also send stamped envelopes and postcards without addresses for postmark, as long as you also send a larger envelope with adequate postage and a return address. There are also commemorative cachets, or decorative envelope, which are available from a variety of collector resources.

Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story is coming to Public Radio Tulsa over the next few weeks, starting on Thursday, June 4th and continuing over the next two weeks.

Across the Tracks is a three-part radio documentary that examines the influence of Route 66 across time and culture. Dr. David Dunaway of New Mexico conducted a significant amount of oral history interviews for this project, which originally aired in 2001 and was heard across more than 200 radio stations across the country.

For Route 66’s 100th anniversary, this remarkable series has been made available to stations again in celebration of the road’s milestone. Hosted by the late Martin Milner, star of the Route 66 TV series from the 1960s, the series guides listeners through the road’s history and its influence on modern American culture. In addition to Milner, listeners get to hear the story of Route 66 through interviews from Route 66 historians, roadies, business owners, and many others.

Public Radio Tulsa will air episode one of this series twice: Thursday, June 4th, at noon and Friday, June 5th at 8:00 PM. Episodes two and three will air the following two weeks on the same days at the same times. Interested listeners not in the broadcast area can tune in online at https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/.

A small business in Depew, Oklahoma - the town that has the distinction of being the first town bypassed by a Route 66 re-alignment - received a huge boost with a grant from American Express.

D's Creations, a local boutique and micro-market located on historic Route 66, has been selected as a recipient of an AMEX Shop Small® Grant from American Express® and Main Street America. The grant will provide D' s Creations with $20,000 in funding to transform its historic 1926 storefront into a high-tech manufacturing hub and expanded grocery destination for the Depew community.

The project, titled "Securing Depew's Future," will allow for:

• Industrial Expansion: Installation of industrial embroidery and DTF printing systems to automate production for local schools and Route 66 tourism.

• Cold Storage Infrastructure: New commercial-grade refrigeration to triple the shop's capacity for locally sourced, grass-fed beef and organic produce.

• Community Investment: A commitment to continue the Annual Back to School Bash, which provides free supplies and haircuts to hundreds of local children.

"When the corporate dollar store moved in and our local market closed, our town faced a crisis," said Destiny Parrick, owner of D's Creations. "I didn't want to see our seniors and residents struggling to find fresh food. This grant allows us to buy the industrial freezers and printing equipment we need to grow. We’re staying right here on the Mother Road, and we're proving that Depew isn't just surviving—we’re thriving."

The program was initially launched with a $5 million contribution to support 250 small businesses in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Through a Small Business Saturday giving pledge, an additional $1 was given to the grant program for eligible transactions made on Small Business Saturday, and American Express contributed an additional $5.1 million—expanding the program’s reach and impact to small businesses and the communities they serve. The 505 recipients reflect the vitality of U.S. small businesses, spanning industries from retail and food service to healthcare and professional services.

“Small businesses play a vital role in our communities,” said Jennifer Skyler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, American Express. “The Shop Small Grants Program builds on our longstanding commitment to small businesses, which began with Small Business Saturday, by putting meaningful investment behind the people and places that drive local impact.”

“At Main Street America, we believe that supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses builds community wealth and a culture of innovation – yet, far too often, this vision isn’t realized due to a variety of factors, including lack of access to resources and funding,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO, Main Street America. “This is why we are so proud to partner with American Express on a program that provides meaningful support to small business owners working to strengthen their livelihoods and their communities.”