Historic Route 66 Association

Historic Route 66 Association
Name	Historic Route 66 Association
Formation	1980s
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	United States
Region served	United States

Historic Route 66 Association is an organization devoted to recognizing, preserving, and promoting the cultural heritage of U.S. Highway 66, the roadway immortalized in American travel lore and folk music. The association engages with state preservation offices, municipal tourism bureaus, national nonprofit organizations, and private collectors to mark historic alignments and restore roadside architecture. Its efforts intersect with transportation history, popular culture, and historic preservation movements across the United States.

History

The association emerged amid renewed interest in the legacy of U.S. Route 66 following increased scholarly attention and popular media portrayals of U.S. Route 66, John Steinbeck, Bobby Troup, Nat King Cole, and Jackson Browne. Early momentum drew support from preservationists linked to National Trust for Historic Preservation, local historians affiliated with Smithsonian Institution programs, and civic boosters from cities such as Chicago, Springfield, Illinois, St. Louis, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles. Influences included federal actions like the Interstate Highway System construction and state-level signage initiatives led by agencies comparable to Federal Highway Administration. The association’s history parallels revivalist movements exemplified by cultural works like the film The Grapes of Wrath adaptations, the television series Route 66 (TV series), and the song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66".

Founding and Mission

Founders included civic leaders, preservationists, and entrepreneurs who liaised with entities such as the National Park Service, Library of Congress, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and regional chambers like the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission statements echo principles championed by organizations including Preservation Action, The Heritage Foundation (in its interest in cultural heritage), and museums like the Museum of the City of New York and Autry Museum of the American West. Goals emphasize documenting architectural specimens such as Route 66 motels, filling stations, neon signs, and roadside diners, aligning with conservation standards similar to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

Organization and Membership

The association’s structure features state chapters and local affiliates that coordinate with municipal governments like Los Angeles City Council, county historical commissions such as the Los Angeles County Historical Commission, and state historic preservation offices in Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, New Mexico State Historic Preservation Division, and Illinois Historic Preservation Division. Membership spans private citizens, preservation professionals from institutions like Getty Conservation Institute, academics from universities including University of Oklahoma, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Arizona State University, and representatives of heritage tourism groups including Historic New England and Visit California. Partnerships have involved nonprofits such as Route 66 Alliance, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Street America, and civic groups like Rotary International chapters along alignments.

Preservation and Markers

Efforts to mark historic alignments have paralleled programs from state departments of transportation and initiatives by organizations similar to National Scenic Byways Program and America's Byways. The association worked with municipal planning departments in Chicago Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Transportation, and Oklahoma Department of Transportation to install distinctive signage modeled after standards used by agencies like the Federal Highway Administration. Preservation projects have targeted landmarks such as Cadillac Ranch, Wigwam Motel (Holbrook, Arizona), Meramec Caverns, Blue Swallow Motel, and historic service stations documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey. Conservationists drew on expertise from entities like the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and regional museums including the Route 66 Museum (Clinton, Oklahoma).

Programs and Events

The association sponsors marker dedications, heritage tours, and conferences that attract participants from institutions like American Historical Association, Association for Preservation Technology International, and tourism bureaus such as Visit Albuquerque and Visit Amarillo. Annual gatherings mirror events organized by organizations like National Trust for Historic Preservation conferences, while fundraising and promotional events have featured collaborations with cultural festivals in Chicago, St. Louis, Santa Fe, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas, New Mexico. Educational outreach has connected with school programs in districts like Chicago Public Schools and universities such as University of California, Los Angeles for lectures, exhibitions, and archival projects with repositories including the Library of Congress and National Archives.

Impact and Legacy

The association’s work influenced state-level historic route designations, tourism strategies in municipalities including Shamrock, Texas, Glenrio, New Mexico, Kingman, Arizona, Seligman, Arizona, and revitalization of commercial corridors in Route 66 towns documented by planners associated with American Planning Association. Its legacy informs scholarship in transportation history at institutions like Ohio State University and University of Kansas, media representations in projects by Warner Bros., Disney–ABC Television Group, and musicians such as Chuck Berry. Recognition has encouraged preservation of vernacular architecture and stimulated heritage tourism networks connected to organizations like National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street America, contributing to economic and cultural revitalization efforts in numerous communities along the historic U.S. 66 corridor.

Category:U.S. Route 66 Category:Historic preservation organizations in the United States