Historic Route 66 Preservation Foundation

Historic Route 66 Preservation Foundation
Name	Historic Route 66 Preservation Foundation
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1999
Headquarters	Illinois
Focus	Historic preservation, cultural heritage, transportation history

Historic Route 66 Preservation Foundation

The Historic Route 66 Preservation Foundation is an American nonprofit dedicated to preserving, documenting, and promoting segments of U.S. Route 66. The foundation works with federal and state preservation programs, local municipalities, and heritage tourism organizations to stabilize historic buildings, roadside architecture, and cultural landscapes along the corridor that once connected Chicago, Illinois, St. Louis, Springfield, Missouri, and Santa Monica, California. Its activities intersect with national preservation initiatives and landmark programs associated with National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and state historic preservation offices such as the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office and the California Office of Historic Preservation.

History

Founded in 1999 amid growing interest in heritage highways, the organization emerged from coalitions that included stakeholders from Route 66 Association of Illinois, Route 66 Association of Missouri, Route 66 Chamber of Commerce, and preservationists affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Scenic Byways Program. Early campaigns paralleled efforts surrounding the designation of U.S. Route 66 segments on the National Register of Historic Places and coordinated with planning initiatives in cities such as Chicago, Springfield, Illinois, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Flagstaff. The foundation’s history reflects broader trends in late 20th-century historic preservation influenced by legislative frameworks like the National Historic Preservation Act and programs administered by the National Park Service.

Mission and Programs

The foundation’s mission emphasizes stabilizing structures, documenting vernacular architecture, and promoting heritage tourism along the Route 66 corridor. It designs programs that align with preservation standards promulgated by the National Park Service and collaborates with entities such as the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, and regional museums including the Route 66 Museum (Clinton, Oklahoma) and the Wigwam Village Motel stewardship groups. Core programs include grantmaking for masonry repair and roof stabilization, technical assistance informed by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and inventory projects that feed data to repositories like the Historic American Buildings Survey and the National Register of Historic Places.

Preservation Projects and Grants

Project work spans diners, motels, gas stations, bridges, and neon signage from Chicago to Santa Monica Pier. Notable preservation projects have supported restoration of neon at landmark sites tied to figures such as Jack Rittenhouse and properties associated with businesses like Phillips 66 and Sinclair Oil Corporation. The foundation administers competitive grant rounds and emergency stabilization funds, leveraging matching funds from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, state historic preservation offices, and local economic development agencies including county historic commissions in Missouri and New Mexico. It also partners with academic conservation programs at institutions such as University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Arizona State University, and University of Oklahoma for technical fieldwork.

Education and Outreach

Educational initiatives include interpretive signage, oral history projects, and school curricula that connect Route 66 heritage to broader narratives involving Dust Bowl, Great Depression, Postwar United States, and Interstate Highway System development. Outreach formats have involved traveling exhibits co-curated with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, lecture series featuring scholars from University of California, Los Angeles and Northwestern University, and digital archives hosted in partnership with the Library of Congress. The foundation supports volunteer programs that involve community groups like AmeriCorps and engages tourism stakeholders including chambers of commerce in Albuquerque, Amarillo, and Barstow.

Partnerships and Advocacy

The foundation maintains partnerships with federal agencies including the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration, national nonprofits like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and regional organizations such as the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. Advocacy efforts have targeted legislative and regulatory actions affecting historic routes, coordinating with stakeholders involved in National Scenic Byways Program nominations, state Departments of Transportation in Illinois Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Transportation, and municipal planning departments in corridor cities. It also engages with private-sector partners including heritage tourism operators, preservation contractors, and preservation-minded donors.

Organization and Governance

Governance is provided by a volunteer board of directors composed of preservation professionals, historians, and civic leaders drawn from across Route 66 states. The foundation follows nonprofit governance practices compatible with oversight by entities such as the Internal Revenue Service and works with legal counsel experienced in preservation easements and historic covenants. Operational staff coordinate grant administration, project monitoring, and partnerships with universities including University of New Mexico and Northern Arizona University.

Funding and Financials

Funding streams include philanthropic grants from family foundations, corporate sponsorships, competitive grants administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and state arts agencies, membership dues, and earned income from merchandise and events. The foundation leverages matching funding through programs connected to the National Park Service and collaborates on capital campaigns with local historical societies and economic development corporations in Route 66 communities. Financial oversight is conducted through annual audits and reporting consistent with nonprofit best practices overseen by state charity regulators.

Category:Historic preservation organizations in the United States Category:Route 66