We invite you to experience the rich history and enduring legacy of Route 66 by registering for this important online series. Notable authors, historians, and passionate advocates will come together to share their unique stories and expertise about this iconic highway. Participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Route 66 and its significance in American culture and history. Celebrate, learn, and connect with others who are dedicated to preserving the memory of the road that has helped shape the nation.
The speaker series is proudly certified as an Official Route 66 Centennial Activity by the federal U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission and is organized and hosted by Research Route 66, a collaboration led by the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, and ten archives, libraries and museums along the route.
The University of New Mexico College of University Libraries and Learning Services will host January's session featuring Dr. David Dunaway, a leading Route 66 humanities scholar and an internationally recognized professor of History, Literature, and American Studies. Dunaway will share remarkable first-hand accounts gathered from decades of oral history work along the Mother Road. You’ll hear voices that shaped — and were shaped by — Route 66.
On February 10, Route 66 author and historian Susan Croce Kelly will examine Cy Avery, who is considered the father for Route 66. Avery's vision for better roads through his hometown of Tulsa set the stage for the creation of Route 66. Croce, who resides in Springfield, Missouri, is a leading historian of Route 66 and is the author of Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery.
The online speaker series is free, but you must register in advance. Learn more and register here!