Route 66 Associations

Route 66 Associations
Name	Route 66 Associations
Formation	1980s
Headquarters	Various cities along U.S. Route 66
Region served	United States
Membership	Local chapters, volunteers, businesses

Contents

Route 66 Associations are federations of local, state, and national organizations dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and interpretation of U.S. Route 66. Founded in the late 20th century in response to the 1985 decommissioning of U.S. Route 66, they brought together advocates from Chicago, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona, and Los Angeles, California to conserve historic motels, diners, and roadside architecture. Associations interact with municipal agencies such as the National Park Service, state historic preservation offices like the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, and nonprofit entities including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.

History and Origins

Origins trace to grassroots groups in Winslow, Arizona, Seligman, Arizona, and Carthage, Missouri reacting to the bypassing effects of the Interstate Highway System and the replacement of U.S. Route 66 by Interstate 40, Interstate 44, and Interstate 55. Early organizers included civic leaders from Shamrock, Texas and preservationists connected to the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress. Influential early campaigns referenced precedents like the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and modeled advocacy on groups such as the Historic Route 66 Association of Oklahoma and the California Historic Route 66 Association. Collaborations extended to historians associated with University of Oklahoma, Arizona State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and museums like the Route 66 Museum (Clinton, Oklahoma).

Associations prioritize identification and protection of historic sites along corridors through partnerships with entities including the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, State Historic Preservation Offices, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Activities include lobbying state legislatures in Illinois General Assembly, Missouri General Assembly, New Mexico Legislature, and municipal councils in Chicago, Springfield, Illinois, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles for heritage signage and tourism incentives. They coordinate with tourism bureaus such as Visit California, Travel Texas, Discover Oklahoma, and attractions like the Petrified Forest National Park and Grand Canyon National Park to integrate Route 66 heritage into regional planning.

Structure varies: some chapters follow nonprofit models registered with state secretaries like Secretary of State of Arizona or Secretary of State of Missouri while others are informal volunteer coalitions connected to chambers such as the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. Membership encompasses proprietors of motels listed in registers such as the National Register of Historic Places, owners of cafes like the Tucumcari Murals and Route 66, museum professionals from the Autry Museum of the American West, and academics from University of California, Los Angeles, Northwestern University, and University of New Mexico. Advisory boards often include representatives from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and regional planning commissions like the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

Preservation campaigns target neon signs, diners, vintage gas stations, and bridges tied to sites like the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the U-Drop Inn, and the Blue Swallow Motel. Associations leverage tools such as nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, easements administered by The Trust for Public Land, and conservation grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Endowment for the Arts. They have contested proposals by transportation agencies including the Federal Highway Administration and engaged consultants from firms like AECOM and HDR, Inc. to develop rehabilitation plans. Notable successes include local ordinances in Seligman, Arizona and designation efforts in Shamrock, Texas and Galena, Kansas.

Associations organize annual caravans and festivals that connect with events such as the Chicago Auto Show, New Mexico True, and state fairs like the Oklahoma State Fair. They publish newsletters and guidebooks and work with publishers linked to University of Arizona Press, University of Oklahoma Press, and travel writers associated with Lonely Planet and Frommer's. Educational initiatives partner with schools and programs at institutions like Arizona State University, University of Illinois Chicago, Tulsa Community College, and the Museum of the American Automobile. Programming includes walking tours in Santa Monica, oral histories archived at the Library of Congress, and documentary collaborations with broadcasters such as PBS and History Channel.

Funding sources include grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, contributions from corporations such as Ford Motor Company and Chevron Corporation, and sponsorships from hospitality brands including Hilton and Best Western Hotels & Resorts. Associations cultivate partnerships with economic development agencies like Economic Development Administration, tourism organizations such as Brand USA, and cultural institutions including the American Alliance of Museums. Fiscal sponsorships are sometimes provided by regional nonprofits like the Arizona Heritage Alliance and philanthropic foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Impact includes heritage tourism growth benefiting communities like Kingman, Arizona, Williams, Arizona, Galena, Kansas, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and Miami, Oklahoma and influencing media portrayals in films like The Grapes of Wrath (film), Easy Rider, and television series referencing the corridor. Controversies center on gentrification pressures affecting proprietors in Albuquerque, disputes with state departments such as the California Department of Transportation and the New Mexico Department of Transportation over road realignments, and debates about commercialization raised by preservationists aligned with National Trust for Historic Preservation. Conflicts have involved litigation in federal courts including the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and public debates in outlets tied to Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic.

Category:Historic preservation organizations Category:U.S. Route 66