![]() Say hello to the friendly folks at the Route 66 Information Visitor Center (815 E. Sights in Springfield, MO Route 66 Information Visitor Center Unless you have a serious time constraint, stop here: Springfield is too rich in Route 66 history to be missed. The post-1936 alignment bypasses downtown Springfield via Highway 744 west and U.S. After crossing under I-44, the Chestnut Expressway turns into Highway 266. Turn left (west) and keep straight as you leave Springfield. West of the square, the road turns into College Street and joins the West Chestnut Expressway (Business 44). Louis Street, which turns into Park Central as it wraps around the square. Drive two miles south and turn right (west) on St. 744) west for 2 miles and turn left (south) onto Glenstone Avenue (Business 44). If you don’t have much time but still want to take the 1926-1935 alignment through Springfield, cross I-65 and follow Kearny Street (Hwy. Louis Street, which leads downtown to the Public Square. 744) and continues south along Glenstone and National Avenues to St. The 1926-1935 alignment enters Springfield from the northeast to run west along East Kearny Street (Hwy. Route 66 had several realignments through Springfield. Photo © Tony Hisgett, licensed CC BY 2.0. 66th Anniversary Commemorative Plaque in Springfield, MO. ![]() ![]() It is for this reason that Springfield is recognized as the birthplace of Route 66. On Apa telegram was sent from Springfield’s Colonial Hotel-demolished in 1997-proposing that the road from Chicago to Los Angeles be named Route 66. In 1925, Congress enacted a law for national highway construction that made Route 66 possible. John Woodruff, an entrepreneur from Springfield, Missouri, teamed up with Cyrus Avery, the chairman of the Oklahoma Department of Highways (also known as the “The Father of Route 66”), and together they mapped out the Mother Road’s diagonal course. ![]()
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