With each map, brochure, diary, or photograph we learn more about the highway—what it looked like, who used it, what it was like to drive it.
Learn More about Archives
About Research Route 66
An Information Gateway to Route 66
Research Route 66 is a premier information gateway to the diverse stories and historical records associated with the iconic highway. Through its website and network of participating institutions, the initiative encourages and assists students, scholars, writers, preservationists, business professionals, members of the media, and others seeking information about Route 66. The core values guiding this work are discovery, access, inclusiveness, professionalism, and collaboration.
Collaboration for Preservation and Access
The National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, and ten leading archives, libraries, and museums located along the route have joined forces to develop Research Route 66. The mission of this initiative is to make research materials accessible to the general public and stakeholders of Route 66, supporting education, preservation, and the management of this historic corridor. Current goals include enhancing digital access to Route 66 collections, expanding engagement with and understanding of Route 66 to wide audiences, and commemorating the centennial.
The Value of Archival Sources
Archival sources are indispensable. Each map, tourist brochure, diary, or photograph adds to our understanding of the highway—its appearance, its users, and the experience of traveling it. These resources are not only valuable to scholars and students; they also provide tourists with deeper insights for their travels, help property owners learn about their buildings or businesses, support local communities in promoting their history, and assist government agencies in managing different aspects of the historic highway. Research Route 66 connects people to the information they are looking for.
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The Research Route 66 website is dedicated to the memory of Ann Massmann, Southwest Studies Librarian at the University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research, and Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, Director of the Illinois State Museum who were both visionary leaders committed to preserving the rich legacy of historic Route 66, and Research Route 66.
