After traversing the Chain of Rocks Bridge and crossing the Mississippi River into Missouri, Route 66 travelers can experience one of the quirkiest stretches of the Mother Road as the over 300 miles of Route 66 in Missouri angle eastward.

Legendary roadside stops such as Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, the retro Munger Moss Motel, and the world’s largest rocking chair on Route 66 provide a unique road trip experience. When passing through Cuba, travelers can view dozens of artistic murals depicting stories of Route 66 culture. For automobile lovers, catching a film at the 66 Drive-In Theatre in Carthage or exploring the National Museum of Transportation are popular attractions that provide a taste of the Missouri Route 66 experience.

Explore the stories of Route 66 in Missouri and learn how you can celebrate and advocate for the route in 2026.

Route 66 Centennial Events in Missouri

Millions of Route 66 supporters and dozens of communities along the Route 66 corridor will celebrate the Mother Road’s 100th birthday in 2026 with events, commemorations, and advocacy. This year, join the National Trust and our partners in Missouri and be a part of the multi-state centennial celebration:

National Trust on Route 66 in New Mexico

For over 35 years, the National Trust has worked alongside our partners to preserve Route 66 as part of our ongoing Preserve Route 66 campaign that includes over $2.3 million in grantmaking across the eight Route 66 states, advocacy for federal legislation, traveling the route to document its rich history, and supporting Route 66 sites as part of other initiatives like the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places and Backing Historic Small Restaurants.

In Missouri, ten Route 66 sites to-date have received over $321,000 in grants to support critical preservation work that helps enable small businesses and prized community landmarks to thrive and continue to tell their piece of the Route 66 story.

Grantees in Missouri include Fanning Route 66 Outpost in Cuba for preservation work at the home of the world’s largest rocking chair on Route 66, and Spencer Station for much-needed mortar restoration on the exterior walls and sidewalk improvements to improve access to the site.

Stay tuned for the next round of Preserving Route 66 grant opportunities for Route 66 Legacy Businesses and Route 66 Sites in Fall 2026.

Stories of Missouri’s Route 66 on Google Arts and Culture

In 2026, the National Trust for Historic Preservation partnered with Google Arts & Culture to launch a new theme page as part of its work to preserve the Mother Road. This project—an Official Route 66 Centennial Project recommended by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission—was developed in collaboration with over 20 additional partner organizations resulting in over 130 stories that take you across all eight states on the Mother Road, including Missouri.

• Preserving Spencer Station on Route 66
• Route 66 - Log City in Jasper County, Missouri
• Route 66 - Stony Dell in Phelps County, Missouri
• Route 66 - The Crossroads of Country Music in Springfield, Missouri
• Chix on 66: Women, Motorcycles, & the Mother Road. Part 1 - Pontiac to Amarillo
• Route 66 - Morrow Service Station in Springfield, Missouri

Advocate for Route 66

What better 100th birthday present for Route 66 than a National Historic Trail designation? We need your help to make that happen!

Your elected officials in the House and Senate need to hear from you about why Route 66 matters to you and the importance of preserving its rich history. This Centennial year is a pivotal moment to designate Route 66 as a national historic trail and help preserve Route 66 for the next 100 years and beyond.

Ask your Member of Congress to cosponsor and support the legislation during 2026 by sending them a letter and sharing this link widely with your community, meeting with congressional staff in their Illinois offices, and inviting elected officials to join you for a Route 66 site visit or event.

Here are some additional resources to help with your advocacy:

• Printable one-pager on Route 66
• Letter template to House and Senate offices
• Preservation advocacy tips