Route 66 Turns 100

by Jessica Kosinski

When you think of legendary icons, you might think of anything from your favorite actor to the Egyptian pyramids. What probably doesn’t come to mind immediately is a simple highway, but there’s nothing simple about Route 66. It has long been known as the most iconic highway in the United States, and this year it is celebrating a milestone birthday. Let’s head out on the highway and take a peek at Route 66, its rich history, and the many collectibles relating to it you might come across at your local antiques shop and choose to snap up in celebration of its centennial anniversary.

The Birth of Route 66
Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, even though several parts of it are still preserved and available to drive today. It was once a continuous road running between Chicago and Los Angeles, stretching 2,448 miles across the western United States. Surprisingly, neither of those cities is considered the birthplace of Route 66.

Federal planners first suggested creating a route from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1925. However, it was in April 1926 that planners gathered at the Colonial Hotel in Springfield, Missouri, and came up with the name we all know and love today. Originally, they considered “Route 60” or “Route 62,” but neither number appealed to them. The designation soon became official.

The Benefits of Route 66
Route 66 was part of a newly-created system of federal highways. Before the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads created that system, travel across the U.S. was much more difficult. Roads just didn’t always connect easily. Sometimes, people had to travel by indirect routes. Route 66 created a more direct alternative. In fact, it cut about 200 miles of driving off compared to the previous best route.

The other reason Route 66 was so important was it was almost perfectly positioned. Any further south and the summer temperatures would have had travelers baking in the heat. A more northern route would have had the opposite problem. It would have been far too cold in the winter, which would have meant too much snow and ice for guaranteed safe travel.

Granted, Route 66 didn’t start out as the type of completely paved road most of us think of when we picture a modern highway. Travelers still had to ride over dirt or gravel sections. Still, the important thing was the road was more reliable than ever before. Its establishment meant improved travel for both business and recreational reasons.

Route 66 and the Great Depression
Route 66 was popular from the beginning, but its popularity only increased in the 1930s due to a combination of the Great Depression and the author John Steinbeck. The Great Depression itself threw a good portion of the country into chaos. At that time, many people in the east were being convinced to travel west. California was considered the land of potentially golden opportunities. When Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939 it was perfect timing. His book talked about traveling on Route 66 in search of those opportunities. It also referred to Route 66 as the “Mother Road,” which increased its popularity. After that, people were especially quick to look to Route 66 as a symbol of hope and opportunities.

Route 66 collectibles from the Great Depression era are some of the most popular today. Many of them were not meant to last and be collected. They were often fragile and can be hard to find. When they do exist, they usually have a lot of wear, but that adds to their charm and historical value. Consider items like early postcards and road maps, for instance. Their charm is in thinking about all the places they’ve been and the things they’ve seen. A little wear only adds to their mystique.

The Golden Age of Route 66
Route 66 is a road that has experienced many unique lives in the sense that its uses and travelers changed with the times. After the Great Depression came World War II, and after that came a whole new purpose for Route 66 because attitudes, industries, and accessibility all began to shift.

The end of the war meant more time together as families. It also meant regaining access to materials that were hard to come by before. That’s why there was a huge boom in road trips through the 1950s. More families were together, and more of them owned cars. They also found themselves with more free time and a better general outlook.

That meant Route 66 was catering to a lot more vacationers. As more vacationers used the highway, they needed more resources. That led to Route 66 experiencing a bit of a business boom. Suddenly, there were gas stations, diners, and motels popping up along it. Then, of course, there were the tourist attractions.

Every town along Route 66 wanted a piece of the tourism pie. The competition got intense, and so did the collectibles. Of course, they weren’t necessarily collectibles at the time. Many of them were just made to be eye-catching advertisements. The most iconic of those for collectors today were the neon signs. They were absolutely everywhere, and many of them have survived to the present day.

Route 66 and Roadside America
Today, most people are in a rush to get from point A to point B. They don’t necessarily want to stop and check out a lot of roadside attractions. Yet, there was a time when roadside America, with its quirky stops, drew people in easily. Route 66 helped to usher in that time. Each town it passed through had souvenir shops, themed attractions, memorable hooks to draw in crowds.

The souvenirs sold in those shops back in the day are reminders of a completely different time in the country’s history. Many of the diners, hotels, and attractions from back in the day are long gone now, but their memorabilia keeps them alive in our memories. Whether it’s an old restaurant menu or a picture on a postcard, each item tells a story. Collecting several from a certain town or specific place can help preserve those stories for future generations.

Automotive Collectibles from Route 66
Of course, it’s impossible to talk about Route 66 memorabilia without discussing cars and gas stations. In fact, gas stations were lifelines for travelers along the iconic highway. Those who stopped at them did more than fill their gas tanks. Often, they had in-depth conversations with station attendants. They might get directions, suggestions for attractions to see along the way, or other insights about each area as they passed through it.

Collectors with space and restoration skills often look for original gas pumps used along Route 66, but they aren’t for everyone. If you want to collect smaller pieces of gas station memorabilia, there are plenty of options. Uniforms and advertising displays are popular, but some of the most popular items are signs. Many were made from porcelain and advertised iconic brands like Mobil and Texaco.

Route 66 Ephemera
Many Route 66 collectibles fall under the “ephemera” category because they were not originally made to last. For example, motel stationery and matchbooks were often used shortly after they were produced. Collectors love those types of items today because they can be rare finds. Other good examples include luggage labels, menus, postcards, and brochures. If you decide to collect those items today they may be in used condition and have some damage, but that’s part of their charm.

Route 66 maps from different years are also popular to collect. They can show how the highway changed over time. Some contained promotions for different towns. Certain early maps you may find today might even have attractions circled or other notes made by their original owners. Those types of notes can be fun because they can give you a glimpse into a typical trip along Route 66.

The Neon Signs of Route 66
Glowing lights might be the first things you may think of when you envision Route 66 back in its heyday. Why? Well, neon signs were everywhere along it at one point. By the 1940s and 1950s, it was impossible to pass through a town anywhere along it without seeing them. They were especially eye-catching at night against the backdrop of a dark sky.

The main problem with collecting early neon signs is they are fragile. Many haven’t survived because their glass tubes could break easily. Although, there are still a fair amount you can find to collect today. The biggest consideration is transporting and shipping them safely, if you do choose to buy them.

A secondary problem is making sure their electrical wiring is still safe to use. Sometimes, you may need to have the wiring replaced completely.

If you want the thrill of collecting neon signs with less hassle, consider buying reproductions. There are plenty of them available, and they are designed to be sturdier and safer. Reproductions are usually easy to spot based solely on how they are made, but most are also clearly marked as reproductions.

Rescuing Route 66 Memorabilia
As mentioned earlier, Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 because the Interstate Highway System changed how Americans traveled. Many towns along Route 66 were no longer seeing enough tourism traffic. Eventually buildings, and even entire towns, were abandoned. Many stayed full of signs and objects the owners didn’t take with them when they left.

Almost right away, Route 66 collectors jumped at the chance to snap up many of those abandoned items, but not in the way you might think. Historians, especially, were less interested in how much they might be worth in dollars and cents and more interested in keeping their stories alive. That turned the situation less into a treasure hunt for
collectibles and more into a rescue effort. In fact, Route 66 museums started popping up, and some historians started working together to preserve its past.

The work they all put in paid off when international tourism started to increase. Visitors from other countries were drawn in by the allure of the Mother Road. As tourism increased again, so did the demand for memorabilia. That’s when the abandoned trash of Route 66 really started to turn into treasure.

What the Centennial Anniversary of Route 66 Means for Collectors
Collectors who enjoy Route 66 memorabilia often look for either collectibles from the earliest days or 1940s and 1950s items because those were two important points in the history of Route 66. That part of collecting is no different this year than any other. If you want to collect Route 66 memorabilia, you can focus on a decade, town, or even a specific attraction. You could also zero in on a certain type of collectible like signs or maps.

What is different is that this year, there are many efforts to mark the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Special events, websites, and even centennial monuments popping up to mark the occasion. All of those efforts are also creating a lot of new Route 66 memorabilia for you to collect. Those newer items may not have high cash values now, but they will definitely be the Route 66 collectibles of the future. After all, they represent a major milestone for the Mother Road.

The Allure of Route 66 May Never End
There is just something about Route 66 that makes it legendary. Its allure may never end because it makes us all think about heading out on the open road with endless options in front of us. It’s that allure that makes collecting Route 66 memorabilia a wonderful idea. Collections can remind us to always keep moving and exploring while also preserving the unique history of Route 66 for future generations to enjoy, just like we all are right now on this special 100th anniversary.

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Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance researcher and writer since 2001. She developed a passion for pre-1990s television and films as a child and she has never grown out of it. Recently, she turned that passion into a retro TV and film blog. Follow along with her at https://medium.com/@jkos_writing, as she dives deep into the characters, actors, quirks, and trivia that brought us some of the greatest films and shows in TV history and also discusses some of the more obscure films and shows most of us may have forgotten.

March 2026