Missouri History Museum’s Route 66 Centennial Festival is Four Days of Free Family Fun

There’s no highway more iconic in pop culture than Route 66. For almost 60 years, it set the scene for the great American road trip – fueling a surge in neon-lit diners, quirky attractions, and art-deco motels while inspiring countless song lyrics and quotable movie moments.

Over the decades, St. Louis became a must-stop destination for drivers on the journey between Chicago and Los Angeles. Whether they pulled over for an ice cream break at Ted Drewes or stopped for the night at the Chase Park Plaza, Route 66 road-trippers helped ignite an economic boom in our city – and created unforgettable memories that have traveled across generations.

Although Route 66 was replaced by the interstate system and eventually decommissioned in 1985, the legendary highway will have a revival this May. In celebration of the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary, the Missouri History Museum will host its Route 66 Centennial Festival from April 30 to May 3, featuring four days of discovery, entertainment, and learning for every member of the family.

“People get so excited about the freedom and adventure that Route 66 symbolizes, and St. Louis is a huge part of that story,” said Lindsay Newton, Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Museum. “To be connected to a narrative that’s known around the world is really incredible and something we should all be proud of.”

The ultimate family road trip through history

The free Festival kicks off on Thursday, April 30 with an outdoor concert starring Sweetie and the Toothaches, playing hits of the 1940s-1960s. From Friday through Sunday, families can check out a classic car display presented by St. Louis area car clubs, a pop-up showcase of vintage neon motel and gas station signs that once lit the way for travelers, and a special display featuring select panels from the popular Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis exhibit.

Of course, no Museum celebration is complete without plenty of activities for its youngest visitors. While our kids never got the chance to cruise the original Route 66, they can experience its history and culture through hands-on learning that sparks their sense of adventure.

Said Newton, “At the Missouri History Museum, we’re always trying to connect the past to the present and the future. With the Route 66 event, kids have the chance to experience how different traveling looked 50 years ago. In our open playroom, families can use maps to plan out their road trip the old-fashioned way, including where they should fuel up and eat their meals and what attractions they should visit.”

Young explorers can also enjoy songs and storytelling, craft their own “neon” signs, and create a hat for their shift at a roadside diner. However, one of the Festival’s biggest highlights is a special movie night with a family-favorite animated film on Friday, May 1. The fun starts at 6 p.m. when kids can design their own cardboard cars and load up on classic drive-in snacks from a convoy of St. Louis food trucks before their four-wheeled heroes speed onto the big screen in the Des Lee Auditorium.

Sharing stories from the road

While many Americans wax nostalgic about Route 66, the journey across the U.S. wasn’t always a joyful one. From the displaced farmers forced west to escape the Dust Bowl to African American families who faced racism along the route, the Museum is committed to centering the experiences of all who traveled the Mother Road with special presentations geared toward older kids and their families.

On Saturday, May 2, MHS historian Cicely Hunter will journey into the history of the Green Book, the annual guidebook that helped Black travelers find safe places to stop along Route 66 during the era of segregation. Firsthand accounts from Irv Logan and Elizabeth Calvin, who worked in their grandmother’s Green Book-listed hotel in Springfield, Mo., are interwoven with advice and stories from Anthony and Marlie Love, hosts of the podcast and YouTube series, Traveling While Black.

In addition, Cheryl Eichar Jett, author of Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66, will introduce guests to the women who helped power this historic highway, whether they served up diner grub, reported the news of the road, or painted public murals along its path.

With so many activities and events planned to celebrate the Mother Road, there’s something for everyone to enjoy throughout the Festival. Best of all, everything is completely free – except for the food trucks – so your family can take part in all the action without breaking the bank. For a full schedule of events, visit the Missouri History Museum website today and get ready to experience Route 66 wanderlust of your own!