Federal, state and local leaders gathered in Springfield to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, emphasizing its legacy and the importance of continued investment in the region’s

NBC's "Today Show" broadcast Thursday from the newly dedicated Route 66 Birthplace Plaza in Springfield, Missouri. Meanwhile, an event in Baxter Springs, Kansas — one of the inspirations for Radiator Springs in the Pixar movie "Cars" — featured the release of 100 lanterns into the sky.

Route 66 turns 100 with concerts, car shows, parades and celebrations stretching from Santa Monica to California’s border.

Route 66 turns 100 in 2026, and southwest Illinois is hosting Jeep runs, music festivals, classic car rallies and family events.

Southwest Illinois celebrates Route 66's centennial with yearlong festivities, featuring festivals, vintage car events, and local businesses.

On April 30, 1926, entrepreneurs Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and John Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri, sent a telegram to Washington D.C. from the Colonial Hotel in Springfield, suggesting the name “66” be given to their new highway going from Chicago to Los Angeles.

The Route 66 Centennial Celebration is far from over with a whole lineup of events happening Friday night, but once the festival is over, new icons of the Mother Road will be sticking around for a long time.