Route 66 Stories

Join us as we tell the stories of people and places in Missouri that helped make Route 66 into a national icon. On the second Thursday of every month at 11am the State Historical Society of Missouri will be talking Route 66 in Missouri. Host Kathleen Seale, coordinator of the SHSMO Rolla and Springfield Research Centers, will talk with SHSMO staff who are contributing to the centennial events and collections. Seale serves on national and state organizations planning this year's Route 66 centennial celebrations.

Discover Missouri's cinematic past with rare archival films, including footage along Route 66 from SHSMO's Rolla Research Center, which holds the papers of Rowe Carney Jr., one of the inventors of the rotoscope, a single projection system that was a precursor to the large format Imax films.

A new exhibition, Through the Windshield: Missouri's Route 66, opened today with a reception at the State Historical Society of Missouri's headquarters in Columbia. The exhibition takes you on a drive through the counties of Route 66 in Missouri. See the landmarks and meet the people that made the highway into something we still talk about today. Missouri comprises just 300 of the more than 2,000 miles of historic Route 66. As the birthplace of the iconic highway, however, Missouri's contributions to the road’s development and history far surpass its size. 

We invite you to experience the rich history and enduring legacy of Route 66 by registering for this important online series. Notable authors, historians, and passionate advocates will come together to share their unique stories and expertise about this iconic highway. Participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Route 66 and its significance in American culture and history.

The State Historical Society of Missouri is partnering with Google Arts and Culture to highlight Route 66! You’ll find online exhibits, images, maps, architectural drawings, stories, and other material related to the history of Missouri’s section of the Mother Road. Google Arts & Culture is a non-commercial initiative that works with cultural institutions and artists to preserve and make the world’s art and culture accessible to anyone, anywhere.