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Route 66 Centennial Event

Route 66 Centennial

Missouri Route 66

Where the Mother Road Got Its Name: Birthplace Plaza Landmark Dedication

April 30 @ 4:00 pm CDT

Free
Event Website

At the southwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and St. Louis Street, Springfield will dedicate Birthplace Plaza on the very ground where Route 66 received its name.

This site once held the Colonial Hotel. In 1926, civic leaders gathered there and sent the telegram to Washington, D.C., officially christening the highway “Route 66.” Exactly 100 years to the time and date that telegram was sent, Springfield will mark the moment with the unveiling of a sculptural installation, mural, and interpretive kiosk honoring the road’s origin story.

Birthplace Plaza is designed to serve as both a historical marker and a modern-day gathering place—a wayfinder for travelers and a point of pilgrimage for Route 66 fans. Through stone, metal, and light, the plaza embeds Springfield’s role in Route 66 history into the landscape itself.

The project is funded by the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission and the Rotary Clubs of Springfield, with support from Missouri State University and the City of Springfield.

Details

Venue

  • Birthplace Plaza
  • 100 Park Central Square
    Springfield, MO 65806 United States     + Google Map
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