List of landmarks on U.S. Route 66 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

U.S. Route 66, often called "Route 66" or "the Mother Road," is a famous old highway in the United States. It stretches from Chicago, Illinois, all the way to Santa Monica, California. Along this historic road, you can find many interesting places called landmarks. These include fun roadside attractions, cool restaurants, and old buildings with important stories.

In the 1950s, lots of people traveled to California. Businesses along Route 66 built motels and unique attractions to catch their eye. After Route 66 was officially removed from the highway system, many of these spots started to fall apart. But don't worry! Many still exist today, and people are working hard to save them.

Illinois: Discovering Route 66's Start
Missouri: Unique Sights Along the Way
Kansas: Short But Sweet Route 66 Stops
Oklahoma: Quirky and Cool Landmarks
Texas: Big Sights in the Lone Star State
New Mexico: Historic Hotels and Trading Posts
Arizona: Wigwams and Roadside Fun
California: The End of the Mother Road
See also

Illinois: Discovering Route 66's Start

Illinois is where Route 66 begins! Here are some cool places you can visit:

Lou Mitchell's (Chicago) – This restaurant is famous and even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. People call it "the first stop on the Mother Road."
Gemini Giant (Wilmington) – Get ready to see a giant! This is a 30-foot tall fiberglass statue of a spaceman holding a rocket. It's part of a group of statues called Muffler Men.
Cozy Dog Drive In (Springfield) – Love hot dogs? This place is known for its "cozy dogs" (corn dogs) and has lots of Route 66 souvenirs.
Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop (Springfield) – This sandwich shop was built in 1921 and is in a historic building.
Shea's Gas Station Museum (Springfield) – This used to be an old gas station and museum. It closed in 2015.
Dixie Travel Plaza (McLean) – A big stop for truckers and travelers on the road.

Lou Mitchell's Restaurant
Gemini Giant
Sign at the Cozy Dog Drive In
Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop
Shea's Gas Station Museum

Missouri: Unique Sights Along the Way

Missouri has some truly unique landmarks on Route 66:

World's second largest rocking chair (Fanning) – You can't miss this huge rocking chair statue!
Red's Giant Hamburg (Springfield) – This restaurant made history! It was the world's first drive-through restaurant.
66 Drive-In (Carthage) – Step back in time at this historic drive-in theater. You can still watch movies from your car!
Ted Drewes (St. Louis) – A famous spot for delicious frozen custard. Perfect for a sweet treat on your journey.

World's second largest rocking chair
Red's Giant Hamburg
66 Drive-In
Ted Drewes

Kansas: Short But Sweet Route 66 Stops

Kansas has the shortest section of Route 66, but it's full of history:

Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station (Baxter Springs) – An old gas station with a lot of history.
Rainbow Bridge (Riverton) – This is a beautiful, historic bridge that's a popular photo spot.
Williams' Store (Riverton) – An old, historic store that tells tales of the past.
Kan-O-Tex Service Station (Galena) – This used to be a gas station and is now a souvenir shop.

Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station
Rainbow Curve Bridge
Williams' Store
Kan-O-Tex Service Station

Oklahoma: Quirky and Cool Landmarks

Oklahoma offers some of the most unique and fun landmarks on Route 66:

Blue Whale of Catoosa (Catoosa) – Imagine a giant blue whale you can walk inside! This fun structure sits by the water.
Pops restaurant (Arcadia) – This restaurant is all about soda pop! It has a huge neon sign shaped like a soda bottle.
Round barn (Arcadia) – This barn is special because it's completely round! It was built way back in 1898.
Milk Bottle Grocery (Oklahoma City) – A historic grocery store with a giant metal milk bottle on its roof.
Rock Café (Stroud) – This restored restaurant is famous! The owner, Dawn Welch, even inspired a character in the movie Cars.
Foyil Filling Station (Foyil) – Another historic gas station that's a blast from the past.

Blue Whale of Catoosa
Pops roadside sign
Arcadia round barn
Milk Bottle Grocery
Rock Café
Foyil Filling Station

Texas: Big Sights in the Lone Star State

Everything's bigger in Texas, and Route 66 landmarks are no exception:

Leaning Tower of Britten (Groom) – This water tower looks like it's about to fall over! It's a fun optical illusion.
Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo) – This is a famous art display where old Cadillac cars are buried nose-down in the ground. You can even spray paint them!
The Big Texan Steak Ranch (Amarillo) – Are you hungry? This steakhouse is known for its huge 72-ounce (that's 4.5 pounds!) steak challenge. Finish it, and it's free!
U-Drop Inn (Shamrock) – This old gas station and restaurant has a cool Art Deco design. It even inspired one of the buildings in the cartoon movie Cars.

Leaning Tower of Britten
Cadillac Ranch
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
U-Drop Inn

New Mexico: Historic Hotels and Trading Posts

New Mexico's Route 66 offers a glimpse into the past with its historic motels and unique shops:

Blue Swallow Motel (Tucumcari) – This classic motel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its neon sign is iconic!
El Rancho Hotel & Motel (Gallup) – A historic hotel that was a popular spot for movie stars back in the 1940s, 50s, and early 60s.
Aztec Motel (Albuquerque) – This historic motel was sadly torn down in 2011.
Maisel's Indian Trading Post (Albuquerque) – Opened in 1939, this store sells Native crafts. The building has cool murals designed by Olive Rush.

Blue Swallow Motel
El Rancho Hotel
Aztec Motel
Maisel's Indian Trading Post

Arizona: Wigwams and Roadside Fun

Arizona's section of Route 66 is famous for its quirky motels and fun photo opportunities:

Wigwam Motel (Holbrook) – Ever wanted to sleep in a tipi? This motel has rooms shaped like them!
Standin' on the Corner Park (Winslow) – This park celebrates the famous song "Take It Easy" by the Eagles. It's a great spot for a photo!
Jack Rabbit Trading Post (Joseph City) – A fun store with a giant fiberglass jackrabbit that says "Here It Is!"
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In (Seligman) – This restaurant was built in 1953 by Juan Delgadillo. His brother, Angel Delgadillo, is known as the "guardian angel" of Route 66!
Meteor City, Arizona (Coconino County) – An old trading post that's now a historic landmark.
Valentine Diner (Valentine) – A classic, pre-made diner that's a piece of history.

Wigwam Motel
Standin' on the Corner Park
Sign for the Jack Rabbit Trading Post
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In
Valentine Diner

California: The End of the Mother Road

California marks the end of Route 66, but not before offering some amazing sights:

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch (Oro Grande, California) – This unique stop features amazing sculptures made from glass bottles and old items, shaped like trees!
Wigwam Village #7 (San Bernardino) – Another cool motel where the rooms are shaped like tipis.
Bagdad Cafe (Newberry Springs) – This cafe was originally called the Sidewinder Cafe. It was renamed after the movie Bagdad Cafe was filmed there.
66 Motel (Needles) – An old motel that was once a popular stop.
Cucamonga Service Station (Rancho Cucamonga, California) – This restored gas station was built in 1915. Now, it's a museum about Route 66 and the local area.
Bono's Historic Orange (Fontana, California) – This is one of the last giant orange-shaped fruit stands left! It was built in 1936.
Old Trails Bridge (Needles) – A historic bridge that crosses over the Colorado river.
Aztec Hotel (Monrovia, California) – This 44-room hotel opened in 1925, just before Route 66 was created. It's built in a unique "Mayan style."
Chicken Boy (Los Angeles) – A fun statue of a Muffler Man with a chicken head!
Roy's Motel and Café (Amboy) – This restored service station has cool Googie architecture features, like a futuristic design.
Summit Inn – A historic roadside diner located high up at the top of el Cajon Pass.
Barstow Harvey House (Barstow) – A historic building that used to be a hotel and a train station.