This February, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum will present Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops,an exhibition celebrating the 100-year history and enduring allure of the country's most legendary highway. Evocative of vast desert landscapes, neon signs, classic cars and low-slung motels, the appeal of Route 66 runs deeper than its roadside attractions. “At its core, the story of the West is one of movement: people, cultures and communities forging new lives across vast landscapes,” says David Davis, the museum's chief curatorial officer. “...From Native trade routes to wagon trails, riverboats, railroads, automobiles and 18-wheelers, each left its mark on the American story.”
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona, 1946. Courtesy Library of Congress.
Route 66 is organized by three major themes. “The Ways West” focuses on the early road systems that laid the foundation for the country's transportation system. “The Mother Road” looks at the origins, history and golden era of Route 66, while “Roadside Attractions” explores motor tourism and the Western motifs that came to define the route.
Branding Iron Motel sign, Flagstaff, Arizona, 1979. Photograph by John Margolies, courtesy of the Library of Congress, John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive.
“There is no better place to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 than right here in Oklahoma, where the highway stretches across more miles than any other state,” says Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. “...Route 66 has always been part of our identity and economy…[and] in 2026, Oklahoma will once again be at the heart of America’s greatest road trip.” —
Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops
February 6-May 4, 2026
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
1700 NE 63rd Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
(405) 478-2250
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
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