St. Louis played a big part in Route 66 and those who live there know that well. That’s why the Missouri History Museum is sponsoring a special event this weekend and other St. Louis venues like the National Museum of Transport have things planned. This article will be a collection of information and events based on the 100th Anniversary of Route 66.
Scroll down for information on the Missouri History Museum’s event on April 30.
Missouri is the Birthplace of Route 66
Show Me 66: Mother Road through Missouri
According to CelebrateMo66.com: This is the anniversary of the telegram that was sent in 1926 from Springfield to Washington, D.C. requesting that a new transcontinental road be named Route 66.
For CelebrateMo66: CLICK HERE
There are several groups celebrating the Mother Road milestone including the Route 66 Commission.
“Route 66 has become a symbol of the heritage of travel and the legacy of seeking a better life shared by the people of the United States, and because Route 66 has been enshrined in the popular culture of the United States”
Therefore, Congress enacted the “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act” in late 2020. This established an official body responsible for studying and recommending activities that are fitting and proper to honor Route 66 on its 100th anniversary in 2026.
Public Law No: 116-256 of the 116th congress stipulates that the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission includes 15 members appointed by the President, based upon recommendations from the Secretary of Transportation, the Governors of the eight Route 66 states, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and House.
For more from the Route 66 Commission: CLICK HERE
TAKE A TRIP ON THE MOTHER ROAD
FOR THE 100th ANNIVERSARY
AAA Route 66 Road Fest
To celebrate Route 66’s 100th Birthday, AAA has created the “AAA Route 66 Road Fest”
June 27 & 28, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma – the Capital of Route 66
Interactive History, Classic Cars, Vendors, Family Activities, and more!
Lodging on Historic Route 66– There are Drury Hotels all along the way.
Here’s the link to the Drury Hotels on Route 66: CLICK HERE
Here is the link to use when making reservations. The links to the hotels are listed below, but when you go to making reservations, if you want our discount, either use promocode SPORTS or this link: https://www.druryhotels.com/bookandstay/newreservation?ratecode=SPORTS&utm_source=stlsportspage&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=stlsportspage
Illinois
Drury Inn & Suites Springfield, IL
Drury Inn & Suites Collinsville
Missouri – St. Louis
Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Forest Park
Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Southwest
Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Union Station
Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch
Pear Tree Inn St. Louis Near Union Station
If you stay at a Drury Hotel, don’t forget to use our special promo code: SPORTS or for the link, CLICK HERE.
Celebrating in St. Louis
April 30–May 3: “Roads, River, Rooms, and Reels” at the Missouri History Museum
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 at the Missouri History Museum during this four-day festival exploring the Mother Road’s stunning natural scenery, quirky roadside attractions, its complex history, and its impacts on communities across the St. Louis region. Enjoy live music, classic car displays, film screenings, a Route 66 neon sign and memorabilia display, family activities, and more! (Media Partner: St. Louis Magazine)
Thursday, April 30
6–8pm | Sweetie and the Toothaches Concert (Imo Family Plaza)
Food vendors include: The Best Wurst, Widdy’s Cheesesteaks, The MOObile Food Truck, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Hank’s Cheesecake.
Friday, May 1
10am–3pm | Vintage Car Display (Imo Family Plaza)
11am–3pm | Food Trucks (Imo Family Plaza)
10am–4pm | Route 66 Neon Display (Lower Level, AT&T Multipurpose Room)
Light up your weekend with a pop-up display of colorful neon, glowing with the charm of classic diners, watering holes, gas stations, and shops that once lit the way along St. Louis’s stretch of the Mother Road!
Scroll down for the complete schedule…
Other Exhibits in St. Louis
Explore St. Louis has lots of suggestions for celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. Check out their website: CLICK HERE.
From the iconic neon glow of Crestwood Bowl to the gravity-defying “concretes” at Ted Drewes, Route 66 unfolds as a living gallery of Americana through the Gateway City. Plan a journey that carries you across the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, along the tracks of the National Museum of Transportation and into the subterranean wonders of Meramec Caverns.
Special Exhibit at the National Museum of Transportation
Celebrates 100 Years of Route 66 with New Exhibit:
“Roads, River, Rooms, and Reels”
St. Louis, MO – The National Museum of Transportation is proud to announce a special exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66. Titled “Roads, River, Rooms, and Reels,” the exhibit will open to the public on March 14, 2026, and will explore the stories, memories, and modes of travel that shaped America’s most iconic highway and the communities connected to it.
Two iconic features anchor the exhibit. Visitors will experience a stunning 26-foot model of the S.S. Admiral, beautifully restored by the skilled craftsmen of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36, honoring the legendary riverboat that once defined river travel and entertainment in the Midwest. The exhibit will also spotlight the beloved ’66’ Park-In Theatre on Watson Road, owned by the Wehrenberg Family of St. Louis, Missouri, a treasured symbol of drive-in movie culture and shared community memories along Route 66.
As part of the exhibition, the Museum invites the public to participate in a special storytelling initiative titled, “I Remember…” Community members are encouraged to share personal memories of the S.S. Admiral, the ’66’ Park-In Theatre, or any drive-in theater “back in the day.”
Submissions of 600 words or less may be emailed to museum@tnmot.org with the subject line “I Remember.” Essays must be received by January 25, 2026, and selected submissions may become part of the exhibition.
The National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road, Kirkwood, MO, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and receives no governmental funding. The Museum relies solely on the generosity of the community to continue its mission of preserving the past for future generations.
The Museum boasts “one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the country,” according to representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, and has been voted one of the top open-air museums in the nation for the past two years by a USA Today Readers’ Choice poll.
Get Your Licks on Route 66: Clementine’s Ice Cream Unveils New Flavors to Commemorate 100th Anniversary of the Mother Road
Available in All Parlors May 5
ST. LOUIS, MO / April 27, 2026 – As Route 66 turns 100, the summer ice cream collection from Clementine’s Ice Cream honors the Mother Road and the way it shaped American road trips and vacation culture.
From spinning gas station slush machines to diner milkshakes and sweet-and-salty snack runs, Clementine’s has taken the classics found along the way and reimagined them under true micro-creamery standards. Fizzy sodas become creamy float-inspired scoops. Chocolate shakes collide with salty chips. Bright cherry slush transforms into vibrant sorbet. These four nostalgic flavors, which launch in all parlors on May 5, capture the glow of neon signs, chrome counters, and the simple thrill of setting out on the open road.
Dr. Dirty Soda folds in the bold spice of a classic soda fountain favorite into velvety sweet cream. Silky, lightly spiced, and lifted with that signature fizz-inspired bite!
Pretzel Cookie Dough is a creamy malted ice cream layered with salty pretzel crunch and tender cookie dough bites striking the perfect balance of sweet and salty!
Milkshake Fries features a luscious chocolate base packed with chocolate-covered potato chips. It’s the ultimate throwback to squeezing into a diner booth and dipping crispy, salty fries into your milkshake.
Cherry Slush is electric cherry in frozen form. Inspired by those whirling red-and-blue slush machines, this sorbet delivers juicy sweetness with a crisp, cooling finish. It’s pure nostalgia in a cup, brain freeze included!
Guests are invited to visit any of the eleven ice cream shops located at 1637 S. 18th Street in historic Lafayette Square, 730 DeMun in Clayton, 4715 Macklind in the Southampton neighborhood, 140 W. Argonne Drive in Kirkwood, 13426 Clayton Road in Town & Country, The Meadows Shopping Center in Lake St. Louis, 308 N. Euclid in the Central West End, Trace on the Parkway in Edwardsville, IL, inside Chicken-n-Pickle in St. Charles, and our newest parlors at 6966 Mission Road in Prairie Village, KS and 1410 SE 8th Street in Bentonville, AR.
As Missouri’s only micro-creamery, all of the dairy used in Clementine’s creations is from local, grass-fed, pasture-raised, hormone and RBST-free cows. Clementine’s combines their all-natural proprietary dairy base with the finest handpicked ingredients to churn up a decadent 16-18% butterfat ice cream. Visit Clementine’s for more information or to order pints online. Follow Clementine’s on Facebook and Instagram for the latest scoop!
Complete Schedule for Missouri History Museum celebration starting April 30, 2026:
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 at the Missouri History Museum during this four-day festival exploring the Mother Road’s stunning natural scenery, quirky roadside attractions, its complex history, and its impacts on communities across the St. Louis region. Enjoy live music, classic car displays, film screenings, a Route 66 neon sign and memorabilia display, family activities, and more!
Media Partner: St. Louis Magazine
Thursday, April 30
6–8pm | Sweetie and the Toothaches Concert (Imo Family Plaza)
Enjoy an outdoor concert with Sweetie and the Toothaches playing hits of the 1940s–1960s that travelers would have listened to on their drive along the Main Street of America. Pack your picnic basket and check out some of the area’s best food trucks. Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and listen to music underneath a beautiful Forest Park sunset.
Food vendors include: The Best Wurst, Widdy’s Cheesesteaks, The MOObile Food Truck, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Hank’s Cheesecake.
Friday, May 1
10am–3pm | Vintage Car Display (Imo Family Plaza)
A classic drive deserves a classic car! Check out some popular wheels from Route 66’s heyday on display, courtesy of St. Louis car clubs.
11am–3pm | Food Trucks (Imo Family Plaza)
Food vendors include: The Best Wurst, Widdy’s Cheeesteaks, Salt + Smoke, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Hank’s Cheesecakes.
10am–4pm | Route 66 Neon Display (Lower Level, AT&T Multipurpose Room)
Light up your weekend with a pop-up display of colorful neon, glowing with the charm of classic diners, watering holes, gas stations, and shops that once lit the way along St. Louis’s stretch of the Mother Road!
10am–5pm | Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis Snapshot (Main Level, Hallway)
Check out the small hallway exhibit that explores St. Louis’s stretch along the famous roadway.
10am–1pm | Open Playroom: On the Road (Main Level, Schnucks Classroom)
Through hands-on activities and thought-provoking questions, families will work together to plan a trip on Route 66 the old-fashioned way—with paper maps and brochures! Make destination and dining decisions, calculate your expenses, and plan your route through historic sites and attractions across Missouri.
10am–1pm | Crafts (Lower Level, Atrium and Karen M. Goering Classroom)
Get your creative kicks on Route 66 with crafts! Make your own “neon” sign, create an air freshener for your car, and decorate a paper hat for your shift at a roadside diner.
10:30–11:00am | Storytelling in the Museum: Road Trips (Main Level, History Clubhouse)
Families are invited to join us for a story time packed with songs and storybooks about road trips! Local author Beth Bacon will read her new book, Route 66: Faces and Places.
11am | Author Talk: Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66 with Cheryl Eichar Jett (Lower Level, Lee Auditorium)
When you think about stopping at a Route 66 diner, you might picture an aproned waitress with coffee pot in hand. But did you ever wonder about all the other women who worked along the 2,448-mile length of the most famous highway in the world? Author Cheryl Eichar Jett takes a look at women behind the scenes who worked at a variety of jobs and businesses. From Chicago to Los Angeles, women pumped gas, ran for office, painted murals, joined the military, reported news, designed buildings, themes parks, rockets, and toys.
1–3pm | The Soundtrack of Route 66 with DJ G. Wiz (Imo Family Plaza)
DJ G. Wiz energizes the festival with an upbeat outdoor set, blending classic hits and modern beats in a lively celebration.
2pm | The Evolution of the Road Trip (Lower Level, Lee Auditorium)
On the centennial of America’s most iconic highway, MHS Curator Sharon Smith will lead a conversation with Neville Crenshaw of the Saint Louis Science Center, Megan Hegger of Ameren Missouri’s Transportation Electrification team, and Carly McKinnis of AAA, exploring how the road trip has evolved over time, shaped by changing technology, culture, and ideas. From electric vehicles and van life to working remote while traveling and algorithm-driven itineraries, hear how new generations are navigating the open road and learn about local resources that support the freedom and adventure behind every journey.
6–9pm | Movie Night: Cars (Imo Family Plaza, MacDermott Grand Hall, Lee Auditorium)
Step back in time to a night at the movies! Enjoy classic drive-in snacks and diner fare from the area’s best food trucks. Stop by the family zone where kids can make their own cardboard cars and “neon” signs. The film begins at 7pm inside the Museum! Food trucks will be available outdoors on the Imo Family Plaza from 5:30–7:30.
Food vendors include: Steve’s Hot Dogs, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Amighetti’s and Hank’s Cheesecakes.
Saturday, May 2
10am–3pm | Vintage Car Display (Imo Family Plaza)
A classic drive deserves a classic car! Check out some popular wheels from Route 66’s heyday on display, courtesy of local St. Louis car clubs.
11am–3pm | Food Trucks (Imo Family Plaza)
Food vendors include: Widdy’s Cheesesteaks, Pure Catering STL, Salt + Smoke, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Hank’s Cheesecakes.
10am–4pm | Route 66 Neon Display (Lower Level, AT&T Multipurpose Room)
Light up your weekend with a pop-up display of colorful neon, glowing with the charm of classic diners, watering holes, gas stations, and shops that once lit the way long St. Louis’s stretch of the Mother Road!
10am–5pm | Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis Snapshot (Main Level, Hallway)
Check out the small hallway exhibit that explores St. Louis’s stretch along the famous roadway.
10am–4pm | Open Playroom: On the Road (Main Level, Schnucks Classroom)
Through hands-on activities and thought-provoking questions, families will work together to plan a trip on Route 66 the old fashioned way—with paper maps and brochures! Make destination and dining decisions, calculate your expenses, and plan your route through historic sites and attractions across Missouri.
10am–4pm | Crafts (Lower Level, Atrium and Karen M. Goering Classroom)
Get your creative kicks on Route 66 with crafts! Make your own “neon” sign, create an air freshener for your car, and decorate a paper hat for your shift at a roadside diner.
10:30am–11:00am | Storytelling in the Museum: Road Trips (Main Level, History Clubhouse)
Families are invited to join us for a story time with songs and storybooks about road trips! Local author Beth Bacon will read her new book, Route 66: Faces and Places.
11am | Author Talk: Route 66: The First 100 Years with Jim Ross and Shellee Graham (Lower Level, Lee Auditorium)
Buckle up and take a generational journey with acclaimed Route 66 ambassadors Jim Ross and Shellee Graham as they time travel through the legendary highway’s life, demise, and renaissance. Explore the route from its birth in 1926 through its centennial and pay homage to all whose lives were shaped or changed by this woudrous road. As the world’s most famous highway, Route 66 conjures up images of dreamers, road-trippers, migrants, and nomads. On a deeper level, it is a story of escape, triumph, deliverance, and adventure during the best and worst of times. Discover ladies of legend, the influence of Indigenous America, neon-splashed boulevards, tourist traps, motor courts, trading posts, and heroes both remembered and forgotten.
11–3pm | The Soundtrack of Route 66 with DJ G. Wiz(Imo Family Plaza)
DJ G. Wiz energizes the festival with an upbeat outdoor set, blending classic hits and modern beats in a lively celebration.
1pm | Navigating the Road: The Green Book (Lower Level, Lee Auditorium)
MHS Public Historian Cicely Hunter journeys into the history of the Green Book, the essential guide that helped Black travelers find safe places to stay, dine, and refuel during the era of segregation. Hear firsthand stories from Irv Logan and Elizabeth Calvin, who worked at their grandmother’s Green Book-listed hotel in Springfield, Missouri; and connect history to experiences today with Anthony and Marlie Love of Traveling While Black, a travel show and YouTube series that explores the joy and challenges of safe and inclusive travel for the Black community and their allies.
3pm | Route 66 Through St. Louis Presentation (Lower Level, Lee Auditorium)
Author and collector Joe Sonderman shines a light on the paths of Route 66 took through the area, including crossing the greatest rivers on a bridge with a bend right in the middle. Discover the sights of St. Louis’s roadside, where flashing neon lit up classic diners, gas station attendants hurried to your car with friendly service, laughter spilled from amusement parks and drive-in theaters, and a man sold frozen custard from a building trimmed with wooden icicles.
Sunday, May 3
10am–3pm | Vintage Car Display (Imo Family Plaza)
A classic drive deserves a classic car! Check out some popular wheels from Route 66’s heyday on display, courtesy of local St. Louis car clubs.
11am–3pm | Food Trucks (Imo Family Plaza)
Food vendors include: Taste-D-Burger, Widdy’s Cheesesteaks, Pure Catering STL, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Hank’s Cheesecakes.
10am–4pm | Route 66 Neon Display (Lower Level, AT&T Multipurpose Room)
Light up your weekend with pop-up display of colorful neon, glowing with the charm of classic diners, watering holes, gas stations, and shops that once lit the way along St. Louis’s stretch of the Mother Road!
10am–5pm | Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis Snapshot (Main Level, Hallway)
Check out the small hallway exhibit that explores St. Louis’s strength along the famous roadway.
12pm–4pm | Open Playroom: On the Road (Main Level, Schnucks Classroom)
Through hands-on activities and thought-provoking questions, families will work together to plan a trip on Route 66 the old fashioned way—with paper maps and brochures! Make destination and dining decisions, calculate your expenses, and plan your route through historic sites and attractions across Missouri.
12pm–4pm | Crafts (Lower Level, Atrium and Karen M. Goering Classroom)
Get your creative kicks on Route 66 with crafts! Make your own “neon” sign, create an air freshener for your car, and decorate a paper hat for your shift at a roadside diner.
1pm | The Art of Neon and Its Association with Route 66 (Lower Level, Lee Auditorium)
Join neon artist Jeff Dunn to learn about the intricate craft of working with neon, the history of the art form, and the way vibrant neon signs along Route 66 attracted customers to motels and eateries, becoming a vital part of the Mother Road’s culture.
1–3pm | The Soundtrack of Route 66 with DJ G. Wiz (Imo Family Plaza)
DJ G. Wiz energizes the festival with an upbeat outdoor set, blending the classic and modern beats in a lively celebration.
3pm | Film Screening and Discussion: Show Me 66: Main Street Through Missouri (Lower Level, Lee Auditorium)
Roll down the car windows, feel the air through your hair, and get your kicks on Route 66! Join filmmakers Andrew Wanko and Eric Wilkinson to watch and discuss the Emmy Award—winning 2016 MHS documentary Show Me 66: Main Street Through Missouri. Equal parts historical documentary and travelogue, the film features hundreds of historic images, archival footage, present-day road footage, and interview subjects ranging from transportation historians to neon sign restorationists.
For Miissouri History Museum website page: CLICK HERE.
