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Preserve Route 66

@preserveroute66

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Sharing preservation success stories and our ongoing efforts along Historic Route 66 at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

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SEE THE STORY OF ROUTE 66 IN A THEATRE AS ICONIC AS THE ROAD. 🎬

Join us Thursday, October 1, at the historic KiMo Theatre for the New Mexico premiere of Route 66: The Main Street of America, followed by a live Q&A with filmmaker John Paget.

This moving documentary brings you face to face with people fighting to keep America’s hometowns, family businesses, historic landmarks, and local stories alive for another generation. Their determination captures the heart of preservation—and why these places matter.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is proud to be the film’s national engagement partner, and our Preserve Route 66 team will be there!

We couldn’t imagine a more fitting setting: the KiMo is one of Route 66’s great historic landmarks and preservation success stories. Come experience the film in a place that embodies its message.

📍 KiMo Theatre · Downtown Albuquerque
🗓️ Thursday, October 1 · 7 p.m.
🎤 Live filmmaker Q&A

Bring someone who loves New Mexico. Share this with someone who believes its stories are worth keeping. And join us for a memorable night on the Mother Road.

🎟️ Tickets and event details at mainstreetofamerica.com by @preserveroute66

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17 days ago

🍿🎬 What a night in Tulsa! I was honored to attend the Oklahoma Premiere of Route 66: The Main Street of America with filmmaker John Paget, and the room was full of the people who keep the Mother Road’s story alive.

It was a treat to be there with Michael Wallis, Rhys Martin, and Ken Busby. Watch the video to hear what folks had to say about the film. The love for Route 66 was easy to see.

Congratulations to John Paget on a film that honors the road and the people along it. They’re headed all the way to LA on Route 66 so get a ticket and go see it! taken in Circle Cinema by @preserveroute66

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a month ago

It was another sold out showing for Route 66: The Main Street of America last night at Motorheads in Springfield, Illinois! This documentary is screening along the highway for the next several weeks and we're proud to be a part of it! See if it's coming to a theater near you at www.mainstreetofamerica.com! #PreserveRoute66 #SavingPlaces #TellTheFullStory #Route66Centennial by @preserveroute66

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a month ago

Last night, the world premiere of Route 66: The Main Street of America received glowing reviews from the sold-out crowd at the @artinstitutechi’s Rubloff Auditorium!

The documentary, which chronicles the famous highway at the time of its Centennial, highlights the people and places that keep the road vibrant and alive.

Screenings will take place at historic theaters along the Route 66 corridor over the next two months, with each state receiving a customized version of the film that focuses more on stories from its region.

Find a screening near you via the link in our Stories ⬆️

Image 2 and 4- Route 66: The Main Street of America filmmaker John Paget
Image 7- National Trust @preserveroute66 Initiative Manager, Rhys Martin
Image 9 - Robin Paget and Brian Grunert

@pagetfilms @route66x100 @firstmainfilms taken in The Art Institute of Chicago by @preserveroute66

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a month ago

Tuesday is the world premiere of the new documentary, Route 66: The Main Street of America! Come say hello at the @artinstitutechi or at any of the screenings as the roadshow heads west. See the full schedule at mainstreetofamerica.com. #PreserveRoute66 #SavingPlaces #TellTheFullStory #Route66Centennial by @preserveroute66

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2 months ago

Our next round of Preserve Route 66 grants open on September 1st! These $10k grants are open to public agencies, non-profits, and legacy businesses along the Route 66 corridor. For more information, check out the link in our bio! #PreserveRoute66 #SavingPlaces #TellTheFullStory #Route66Centennial by @preserveroute66

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2 months ago

In 20 days, the Route 66 Centennial Caravan traveled 2,400 miles through eight states, stopping at over 160 destinations. At its peak, 74 cars snaked through the countryside together, visiting local communities and learning about the work it takes to preserve the cultural fabric of the Mother Road.

Our thanks go out to every participant who joined the caravan, every local resident who greeted us as we passed, every business owner who opened their doors to the group, every historic site staff member who shared their knowledge, and each of you for following the journey.

The Route 66 Centennial Caravan was organized by the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership with support from the National Trust, and daily coordination was spearheaded by Rhys Martin.

This was a journey a century in the making. Now let’s preserve the route for the century to come!

Learn how at www.preserveroute66.com

#SavingPlaces #PreserveRoute66 @route66caravan by @preserveroute66

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4 months ago

Illinois provided a fitting conclusion to the Route 66 Centennial Caravan, carrying participants through some of the most well-known and historically significant landscapes of the Mother Road.

From the Chain of Rocks Bridge and Springfield’s roadside landmarks to the Gemini Giant and the final approach into Chicago, the state offered a powerful reflection on the route’s enduring cultural influence.

The Caravan also highlighted the importance of continued preservation as Route 66 enters its second century. National Trust-supported landmarks including the Pink Elephant Antique Mall, Doc’s Just Off 66, and the Cozy Dog Drive-In demonstrated how preservation helps sustain community identity while creating opportunities for education, tourism, and economic vitality.

As the journey came to an end in Chicago, Illinois offered a compelling reminder that the future of Route 66 depends on the continued stewardship of the places, stories, and people that have kept the Mother Road alive for generations.

And it depends on local and national advocacy. Contact your members of Congress and ask them to support the bill (H.R. 5470 and S. 2887) designating the Route 66 National Historic Trail and help ensure its passage this yea!

Find the link in our Bio ⬆️

#SavingPlaces #PreserveRoute66 @route66caravan taken in Illinois by @preserveroute66

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4 months ago

And just like that, the Route 66 Centennial Caravan made it to Day 20 and completed its cross-country journey, arriving in Chicago after nearly three weeks on the Mother Road.

The day began with a special gathering at the original Dairy Queen location (founded in 1940), where participants met with preservation partners and the CEO of Dairy Queen to celebrate the preservation of the building.

Along the final miles, we drove by Joliet’s Route 66 Park before continuing towards Lake Michigan. Our arrival in North Lawndale was met with marching band drums and a community gathering at the Castle Car Wash.

Driving down Jackson Street led the Caravan to the formal End of Route 66 and onward to Navy Pier, where one final Big Texan Steak Challenge awaited.

Completing this journey was both a celebration of Route 66’s first century and a recognition of the work that remains to protect it for future generations.

#SavingPlaces #PreserveRoute66 @route66caravan taken in Chicago, Illinois, USA by @preserveroute66

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4 months ago

Leaving the State Capitol Building in Springfield, Day 19 felt bittersweet as it marked the final full day of the Route 66 Centennial Caravan’s journey.

The day carried the Caravan through some of Illinois’s most recognizable Route 66 destinations. Stops at the Cozy Dog Drive-In (home of the modern corn dog), The Mill, the American Giants Museum, and the Gemini Giant highlighted the roadside architecture and attractions that helped make the Mother Road famous.

Participants also explored communities that continue to embrace preservation as a tool for economic development and heritage tourism.

The day concluded at the historic Old Joliet Prison, where we were treated to a quick tour of this landmark that speaks to the many layers of history found along Route 66.

#PreserveRoute66 #SavingPlaces @route66caravan taken in Normal, Illinois by @preserveroute66

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4 months ago

Missouri provided the Route 66 Centennial Caravan a rich exploration of preservation efforts along the Mother Road, featuring an extraordinary concentration of historic motels, service stations, bridges, roadside businesses, and community landmarks.

From Joplin to St. Louis, participants experienced places that tell the story of how Route 66 transformed travel and helped shape communities across the state.

Landmarks, including Boots Court Motel, Gary’s Gay Parita, Devil’s Elbow, Wagon Wheel Motel, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, demonstrated the remarkable variety of sites that make Route 66 such a nationally significant cultural corridor.

Throughout Missouri, the Caravan encountered strong examples of preservation in action. National Trust-supported sites, including Cars on the Route, Spencer Station, Boswell Park, the Gasconade River Bridge, Shamrock Court, and Ted Drewes illustrated how strategic investment and community stewardship can protect historic places while supporting local economies.

The state’s route underscored a key theme of the centennial celebration: preserving Route 66 means preserving the businesses, landscapes, structures, and stories that continue to connect communities.

You can help safeguard this remarkable section of Route 66!

Contact your members of Congress and ask them to support the bill (H.R. 5470 and S. 2887) designating the Route 66 National Historic Trail and help ensure its passage this year.

Find the link in our Bio ⬆️

#SavingPlaces #PreserveRoute66 @route66caravan by @preserveroute66

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4 months ago

The morning of Day 18, the Caravan crossed the Mississippi River in grand fashion on the Chain of Rocks Bridge! This mile-long bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, boasts a 30-degree turn midway across and is typically only open to pedestrians and cyclists.

The river crossing was also the final border crossing of the journey, as we entered the eighth state along Route 66, Illinois!

Navigating old alignments of the route, we saw restored buildings like the West End Service Station in Edwardsville and experienced some adaptive re-use of historic buildings at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall and Doc’s Just off 66 in Girard (both National Trust grantees).

We drove across the brick road in Auburn and were treated to some Apple Cider Donuts courtesy of the Apple Barn when we arrived at the Illinois Route 66 Experience in Springfield.

The day highlighted historic communities, roadside attractions, and surviving sections of the original highway, showcasing the many ways Illinois continues to preserve and celebrate Route 66 heritage.

#PreserveRoute66 #SavingPlaces @route66caravan taken in Girard, Illinois by @preserveroute66

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4 months ago