Visit the Route 66 Tourist Information Center to learn about Springfield’s history with Route 66 history. We have maps, brochures and visitor guides.
Officially recognized as the birthplace of Route 66, it was in Springfield, April 30, 1926, that officials first proposed the name of the new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway.
In 1938, Route 66 became the first completely paved transcontinental highway in America – the “Mother Road” – stretching from the Chicago to Los Angeles.
Remnants of the Mother Road are visible in downtown Springfield and on the city’s north side. Travelers see traces of history along the famous thoroughfare. In some areas, early gas stations and cafes are still in operation, sitting alongside antique stores and flea markets. Take a tour of the actual route, directly through the center of the city.