List of Route 66 museums facts for kids

A Route 66 museum is a special place that tells the story of U.S. Route 66. This famous road, also known as the "Mother Road," connected many states across the United States. It ran from Illinois all the way to California.

Route 66 was a very important highway from 1926 until 1985. After 1985, new, faster highways called Interstates took its place. People in towns along the old road wanted to save its history. So, they started opening museums to remember Route 66.

Each museum is unique and shows different parts of the road's past. Some museums focus on just one state or area. Others cover the entire eight-state journey of Route 66. You might also see exhibits about old cars, how people traveled long ago, or even how the road helped during World War II.

Discovering Route 66 Museums

Many museums celebrate the history and culture of Route 66. These museums are found in different states that the famous highway once crossed. They offer a fun way to learn about American travel and life.

Arizona Route 66 Museum

The Arizona Route 66 Museum opened in Kingman, Arizona in 2001. It is located inside the Powerhouse Visitor Center. This building used to be an old electric power plant. The museum shows how travel changed along the path that became Route 66.

California Route 66 Museum

The California Route 66 Museum started in 1995 in Victorville, California. It is in an old building that used to be the Red Rooster Café. This museum focuses on the western part of the historic highway. California also has another Route 66 museum in Barstow, California.

Oklahoma's Chandler Interpretive Center

Oklahoma has several museums dedicated to Route 66. One of them is the Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center. It is located in the historic Chandler Armory building. This building was built during the Great Depression by the Works Progress Administration.

Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum

Bob Waldmire's VW microbus at the Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac, Illinois.

The Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum is in Pontiac, Illinois. It was first located at the Dixie Truckers Home. In 2004, it moved to an old fire hall. Now, it is part of the Pontiac Museum Complex.

This museum has special items, including vehicles from Bob Waldmire. He was a famous artist and mapmaker who traveled Route 66. A character named "Fillmore" in the movie Cars is based on him.

Litchfield Museum and Welcome Center

In Litchfield, Illinois, you can visit the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. It opened in 2013 at an old gas station site. The museum shares local history, including stories about Native Americans and railroads. It also has a mural by artist Bob Waldmire.

National Route 66 Museum

The National Route 66 Museum is in Elk City, Oklahoma. It is part of a larger Old Town Museum Complex. This museum covers the entire Route 66, from Illinois to California. You can even enjoy an interactive ride in a classic 1959 Cadillac!

New Mexico Route 66 Museum

The New Mexico Route 66 Museum is located in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is right behind the local convention center. This museum helps visitors learn about the history of Route 66 in New Mexico.

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum

Route 66 in Clinton, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is in Clinton, Oklahoma. It tells the story of Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. This museum is one of the largest dedicated to the famous highway. It also has special exhibits that change over time.

Route 66 Mother Road Museum

The Barstow Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum opened in 2000. It is located in Barstow, California, inside the historic Casa del Desierto building. This building used to be a train station and hotel. The museum displays old vehicles, photos, art, and gas station items from Route 66's busiest years.

Route 66 State Park Visitors Center

In Missouri, the Visitors Center at Route 66 State Park is a great stop. It is inside the Bridgehead Inn, an old roadhouse built in 1928. The center has displays about Route 66, focusing on its history in Missouri. You can also buy books and souvenirs there. The Visitors Center is next to an old Route 66 bridge over the Meramec River.

See also

• List of museums