Route 66 celebrates 100th anniversary this year

(CBS, KYMA) - America's iconic Route 66 is celebrating its 100th year in 2026.

Route 66 (or Highway 66) was one of the original highways in the US Numbered Highway System.

It was established on November 11, 1926, and ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before terminating in Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles.

The route has been recognized over the years as a central theme in songs, movies, and books, making it an iconic part of American history and pop culture.

The highway struggled to maintain traffic after Eisenhower's 1956 Interstate Highway Act that took cars along quicker routes. US 66 was decertified in 1985.

In the 90s, several states along the route started to work on maintaining parts of the historic highway and designated areas with "historic route" markers.

Various sections of the road itself have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton signed a National Route 66 Preservation Bill that provided for $10 million in matching fund grants for preserving and restoring the historic features along the route.

Oklahoma has the longest stretch of drivable Route 66, with over 400 miles. The state, which has worked hard to save the history of the route with multiple museums, monuments, and sites, has planned several events over the whole year to commemorate its centennial.