Preserve Route 66

The most enduring highway in our public consciousness, Route 66 represents a unique moment in history that continues to define the nation’s identity: the rise of the automobile and its implications of freedom, mobility, and a quintessential American story. To celebrate the legacy of the Mother Road, the National Trust and our talented road team took to the streets—literally.

In 2018, we traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles, uncovering new stories and meeting the diverse people who live along the historic route. By the trip’s end, we had shared the spirit of Route 66 with tens of thousands of travelers old and new, real and virtual—anyone who dreams of the open road.

Our work continues and we need you! Check out opportunities on this page and stay tuned for more ways to celebrate and preserve the stories and places along Historic Route 66.

Stay connected with us via email. Sign up today.

Contact your House Representative and ask them to support the bill designating the Route 66 National Historic Trail (H.R. 4338).

Route 66 is one of America's iconic roadways, yet its historic places—and their stories—continue to be lost over time. We need your help to share the stories of the Mother Road.

The Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund provides financial support to public agencies, tribal governments or nonprofit organizations to preserve and interpret historic places along the Route 66 corridor. Grants range from $2,500 to $10,000.

Filmmaker Katrina Parks with a camera conducting interviews inside Angel and Vilma Delgadillo’s Route 66 Gift Shop in Seligman, Arizona. The walls are covered with license plates and memorabilia.

The Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Fund provides support to businesses to preserve historic places and spur economic development along the Route 66 corridor. Grants projects can range from $5,000 to $10,000 in the following three categories: capital improvements, planning, and marketing and outreach.