Route 66 Centennial Exhibit Opens March 14 at the National Museum of Transportation

The National Museum of Transportation will open a new special exhibition, “Roads. River. Rooms. Reels.”, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, commemorating the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66. The exhibit celebrates the culture, commerce, and community that grew along the legendary highway, with a special focus on the St. Louis region’s role in the story of America’s “Mother Road.”

Route 66, established in 1926, connected Chicago to Los Angeles and quickly became one of the most famous highways in the world. Missouri — and particularly the St. Louis area — played an essential role in the highway’s history as a gateway for travelers heading west.

A centerpiece of the exhibit is a striking 22-foot model of the Admiral riverboat, completed by the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36. The Admiral, once a beloved St. Louis entertainment landmark on the Mississippi River, represents the vital connection between road travel and river culture that shaped the region’s tourism and entertainment industries.

The exhibition also highlights Route 66’s automotive heritage in the Museum’s Earl C. Lindburg Automobile Center, where visitors will find one vehicle representing each decade of Route 66’s existence, illustrating the evolution of American automobiles during the highway’s most active years. From early touring cars of the 1920s to the muscle and cruising culture of the later decades, the display captures how the road influenced American mobility and design.

No Route 66 story would be complete without its roadside attractions and entertainment venues. The exhibit pays tribute to the Wehrenberg theater family, whose name became synonymous with moviegoing in St. Louis for generations. Along the Route 66 corridor, the “66 Park-In Theater” on Watson Road became a beloved destination for travelers and locals alike. As one of the area’s classic drive-in theaters, the Park-In offered families the chance to watch first-run films under the stars — an experience that perfectly captured the spirit of mid-century highway travel and leisure. The Wehrenberg legacy, along with other roadside entertainment landmarks, reflects how Route 66 helped shape the social life and memories of the communities it touched.

“Roads. River. Rooms. Reels.” brings together these stories — transportation, hospitality, entertainment, and regional identity — to illustrate how Route 66 connected people and places across Missouri and the nation.

The exhibition is included with general museum admission.

The National Museum of Transportation, located at 2933 Barrett Station Road in Kirkwood, Missouri, is open daily through Labor Day, with the exception of Sunday, April 5, when the Museum will be closed.  More Museum information may be found at tnmot.org.