Route 66 turns 81 in downtown Springfield, MO
Crowds gathered at downtown Springfield, MO's Route 66 celebration
Saturday, Aug. 11th. Downtown Springfield, Missouri helped celebrate the eighty-first anniversary of the legendary highway that traverses the country between Chicago, Illinois and Santa Monica, California. Known to some as the “Mother Road”, Route 66 was designated as such two blocks from Park Central Square where most of the dayʼs festivities took place today.
Spectators enjoyed live music, food and craft vendors and a plethora of classic cars ranging from the 1920ʼs to the 1970ʼs. Springfield city councilmen Doug Burlison officially designated the second Saturday of August as Route 66 Day. Antique car owners showed off their restored Chevys, Fords and Dodges each with perfect interiors and rich beautiful custom paint jobs.
Downtown businesses such as Rymac, Big Whiskeyʼs and the Coffee Ethic enjoyed a boost in their normal Saturday afternoon traffic. The Coffee Ethicʼs owner Tom Billionis wasnʼt able to attend todayʼs event however remarked, “in the nearly five years weʼve been in business, weʼve seen the square evolve and todayʼs events are just one more positive step in downtownʼs ongoing redevelopment.”
Five Facts about Route 66
1. Missouri (317 miles) has 3 more miles of Route 66 road than California (314 miles.)
2. The Dust Bowl Era began in 1930 and Route 66 is the chosen path of those heading to California who fell on hard times.
3. The first “drive thru” was in Springfield, Missouri at Redʼs Giant Hamburg.
4. Route 66 was completed in 1927 and decommissioned in 1985.
5. The Eaglesʼ hit “Take It Easy” contains lyrics about Route 66 when they sing “Iʼm standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.”
