Route 66 Association

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Route 66 Association is the generic name of the non-profit associations established for preservation, restoration and promotion of the historic U.S. Route 66. They exist in all 8 Route 66 states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.^[1]

The first Route 66 Association was established on U.S. Route 66 in Arizona by Seligman businessperson Angel Delgadillo. An initial meeting of 15 people on February 18, 1987 in Seligman led to efforts which yielded a state-issued "Historic Route 66" designation for a portion of highway 66 between Kingman and Seligman later that year.^[2] By 1990, similar organisations had been established in all eight US Route 66 states.

The California Historic Route 66 Association is the youngest of the 8, being established in December 1990 and dedicated to the U.S. Route 66 in California. It publishes a quarterly newsletter Roadsigns, which includes various news and history related to Route 66 in California, among other things. It published the Guide to Historic Route 66 in California, a travel guide with maps, directions, mileage, photos, and other travel information.^[1]

The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona was established in February 1987 and dedicated to the U.S. Route 66 in Arizona. The Arizona association was instrumental in making the Seligman-Kingman stretch of Route 66 to be officially recognized as "Historic Route 66" later that year, a designation subsequently extended to the whole Route 66 in Arizona.^[3]

Seligman, Arizona businessperson Angel Delgadillo was a key early advocate both of the creation of this Route 66 association and of the introduction of the "Historic Route 66" designation and signage.^[4]

The New Mexico Route 66 Association is dedicated to the education, promotion and preservation of Historic Route 66 in New Mexico.^[5]

The Texas Old Route 66 Association, dedicated to the U.S. Route 66 in Texas, was incorporated in 1991. It publishes the Texas Route 66 Newsletter quarterly and maintains the Texas Route 66 Exhibit, the first Route 66 museum on the route, among other activities.^[6]

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association, organized in 1989, is dedicated to the U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and the Official Oklahoma Route 66 Association Trip Guide.^[7]

The Kansas Historic Route 66 Association, founded in 1990, is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the 13.2 mile stretch of U.S. Route 66 in Kansas.^[8]

The Route 66 Association of Missouri was organized in 1989 (a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation since January 13, 1990) is dedicated to the U.S. Route 66 in Missouri. The association publishes the quarterly newsletter, Show Me Route 66, which describes various projects associated with Route 66.^[9]

The Route 66 Association of Illinois is dedicated to U.S. Route 66 in Illinois. Initiated in March 1989, it was incorporated in October 1989 in Dwight, Illinois, and currently has Pontiac, Illinois, where the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum is located, as its home base. The association publishes a quarterly magazine, The 66 News.^[10]

Founded 1995, the National Historic Route 66 Federation publishes the "Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide" (since 1999, currently including over 500 mostly vintage businesses) and a 200-page "EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers" (since 2005). With a stated objective of bringing Route 66 historians, authors, artists, photographers, business people and enthusiasts with citizens within U.S. Route 66 host communities, the federation presents an annual “John Steinbeck Award” to an individual who had contributed significantly to the preservation of Route 66 and organises an “Adopt-A-Hundred” programme in which adopters watch 100-mile segments for possible preservation problems along the route such as bridges, businesses or stretches of roadbed being closed. These same adopters were to review the dining and lodging businesses while they travelled.

The National Historic Route 66 Federation is working with the National Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to issue $10 million in matching fund grants under the National Route 66 Preservation Bill (1999) to individuals, corporations and communities preserving or restoring historic properties along the historic route.^[11]

• Miller, Blue (2021). Abandoned Route 66 Arizona: Where the Road Came to an End. America Through Time (Fonthill Media). ISBN 978-1634993043.

• Official website – National organization