Route 66: On a Motorcycle

  Juy 28, 2026 2 Wheels, 14 days, 2,447 Miles: A Motorcycle Tour of Route 66 NY Times

Pure Nostalgia

• U. S. Route 66 one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. Established on November 11, 1926, with signage erected the following year,^[4] the highway ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before terminating in Santa Monica, California, covering 2,448 miles (3,940 km).
• Route 66: The TV Series an American adventure crime drama television series that premiered on CBS on October 7, 1960, and ran until March 20, 1964, for a total of 116 episodes.
• The Dust Bowl of the 1930s a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s. The phenomenon was caused by a combination of natural factors (severe drought) and human-made factors: a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent wind erosion, most notably the destruction of the natural topsoil by settlers in the region.
• U. S. Interstate Highway System The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, or the Eisenhower Interstate System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. The system extends throughout the contiguous United States and has routes in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.
• The Okies Many of these migrants—often referred to at the time as "Okies", especially those from Oklahoma—traveled along the highway, a movement later depicted in works such as John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1939).
• Great Depression in the United States commonly (though not universally) dated to the Wall Street crash of October 1929. The nadir came in 1931–1933, and recovery came in 1940. The stock market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, famine, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth as well as for personal advancement. Altogether, this period represented a traumatic loss of confidence in the economic future.
• Blog Roll: The Great Depression The name is a misnomer.
• The Roaring Twenties sometimes stylized as Roaring '20s, refers to the 1920s decade in music and fashion, as it happened in Western society and Western culture. It was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the United States and internationally, particularly in major cities such as Berlin, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York City, Paris,^] and Sydney. In France, the decade was known as the années folles ('crazy years'), emphasizing the era's social, artistic and cultural dynamism. Jazz blossomed, the flapper redefined the modern look for British and American women, and Art Deco peaked.
• The Jazz Age a period from 1920 to the early 1930s in which jazz music and dance styles gained worldwide popularity. The Jazz Age's cultural repercussions were primarily felt in the United States, the birthplace of jazz. Originating in New Orleans as mainly sourced from the culture of African Americans, jazz played a significant part in wider cultural changes in this period, and its influence on popular culture continued long afterwards.

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Route 66, The TV Series. an American adventure crime drama television series that premiered on CBS on October 7, 1960, and ran until March 20, 1964, for a total of 116 episodes. The series was created by Herbert B. Leonard and Stirling Silliphant, who were also responsible for the ABC drama Naked City, from which Route 66 was an indirect spin-off. Both series employed a format with elements of both traditional drama and anthology drama, but the difference was where the shows were set: Naked City was set in New York City, while Route 66 had its setting change from week to week, with each episode being shot on location.

The Route 66 Centennial in 2026 marks 100 years of the iconic Mother Road, featuring nationwide events, restoration projects, and cultural celebrations across all eight states from Chicago to Santa Monica.

Overview of the Centennial

The Route 66 Centennial commemorates the 100th anniversary of the highway’s official designation on November 11, 1926, celebrating its legacy as a symbol of American freedom, adventure, and road-trip culture 

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. Although decommissioned in 1985, Route 66 remains a cultural icon, and the centennial highlights its historical, economic, and social impact through a variety of events, restoration projects, and interactive experiences 

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Key Events and Activities

• National Kick-Off Celebration: Springfield, Missouri, hosted the official Centennial Kick-Off from April 30 to May 2, 2026, featuring a globally livestreamed concert, a 1920s-themed gala, historical programming, and community events 
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• Caravans and Rallies: Organized caravans, including the “Main Street of America” Route 66 Caravan and vintage car rallies, allow travelers to journey along the historic route from California to Illinois 
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• Motorcycle Tours: Harley-Davidson’s H.O.G. Ride 365® includes five special rides along Route 66, offering participants exclusive challenge coins and commemorative experiences 
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• EV and Innovation Road Trips: The Electric Duo and Bosch Wiper Blades are conducting 2,400-mile road trips along Route 66, showcasing electric vehicles and automotive innovation while celebrating the highway 
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• Cultural and Educational Programs: Initiatives like the All-American Boys Chorus’ “Voices of Route 66,” immersive dome experiences, and documentary screenings explore the highway’s history, music, and storytelling 
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• Festivals and Local Celebrations: Each state along Route 66 hosts centennial events, including car shows, bike weeks, heritage runs, and town-specific festivals in cities like Kingman, Flagstaff, and Amarillo 
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Restoration and Preservation Efforts

The centennial also emphasizes preservation, with projects including:

• Restoration of historic motels, gas stations, bridges, and neon signs.
• Installation of new Route 66 Centennial Monuments and interactive markers with QR codes linking to local history.
• Grants and support for small businesses and tourism infrastructure along the route 
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Planning Your Centennial Trip

• Timing: Most centennial activities occur from spring through late autumn 2026, with peak events in June and November 
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• Route: Route 66 spans eight states—Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California—covering approximately 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica 
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• Tips: Book accommodations early, combine official events with personal stops at diners, museums, and roadside attractions, and follow local Route 66 associations for updates 
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Special Highlights

• Art and Music: The Route 66 Centennial Orchestral Suite and Art Quilt Project celebrate the highway’s cultural impact 
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• Interactive Experiences: American Truck Simulator now features a full digital recreation of Route 66, allowing virtual exploration 
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• Community Engagement: Programs like “One Good Thing Along Route 66” encourage travelers to perform acts of kindness at 100-mile intervals along the route 
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  The 2026 Route 66 Centennial is not only a celebration of the past but also a living tribute to the road’s enduring spirit, offering travelers a unique opportunity to experience history, culture, and adventure along one of America’s most legendary highways 
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