Help Preserve the Stories and Memories of the Mother Road

Do you have historic photos, videos, diaries or other items related to travel or life on Route 66? Preserve them by donating your items to a public archive today!

Preserving Route 66 History

Route 66 holds a special place in American culture, and preserving its legacy is important for future generations. If you have materials related to Route 66 that are historically or culturally significant, such as photographs, family films, postcards, or travel diaries, your contributions can help safeguard this heritage.

The Value of Your Contribution

Many valuable collections have been lost because people were unaware of their significance to the historical record. Donating these materials to a public institution ensures their preservation and makes them accessible for community, museum, academic, and other public uses.

How to Donate

If you would like to donate your Route 66 items, please reach out to our general mailbox or contact one of our regional institutions. Provide information about your materials, and we will guide you through the available options and provide details on how your collection can be preserved for posterity.

Please contact our general mailbox or one of our regional institutions with more information about your materials, and we will provide you with information and options for your collection.

Types of Materials You Can Donate:

Archival collections (institutional records, personal papers, subject collections, etc.)

Photographs

Oral histories

Maps

Published material (books, periodicals, newspapers, etc.)

Promotional material (tourist brochures, advertisements, etc.)

Government documents

Audio-Visual material

Ephemera

Vertical files

Digital Material

Subject Areas of Materials:

History of Route 66

Transportation/Highway development

Trucking/Transit Industry

Trails, immigrant routes, pre-modern roads

Roadside architecture

Local history, businesses, industry, and government

Automobile travel

Tourism

Historic preservation

Native Americans/American Indian lands

Latinos/Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, and/or other ethnicities

Dustbowl/Migrant camps

Road Boosters/Organizations/Good Roads Movement

Other (describe)

Geographic Designations Covered by the Materials:

Route 66 in a particular state (IL, MO, KS, OK, TX, NM, AZ, CA)

National Route 66