Springfield earned its nickname as “The Birthplace of Route 66” on April 30, 1926. That’s when officials gathered in the city and first proposed the now-famous highway name for the route linking Chicago and Los Angeles. A century later, the city marks the milestone with a three-day party and invites travelers to explore Springfield’s museums, landmarks and historic attractions tied to the legendary highway.

Springfield celebrates the Mother Road

Springfield’s Route 66 Centennial Kickoff brings three days of celebrations from April 30 through May 2, marking the start of nationwide events honoring the highway’s 100th anniversary. The festival will feature concerts, classic cars and community gatherings celebrating the culture that grew along America’s most famous highway.

The celebration opens with a national broadcast of NBC’s “3rd Hour of TODAY” from Springfield and continues with a dedication ceremony at Birthplace Plaza marking the moment the Route 66 name was proposed in 1926. A kickoff concert at Missouri State University’s Great Southern Bank Arena will headline the evening with performances by Little Big Town, Chris Janson, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts and other artists.

“The centennial is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the power and enduring legacy of Route 66,” said Bill Thomas, president and CEO of The Road Ahead Partnership and a member of the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. “Launching the national celebration in Springfield reflects the road’s origins and its timeless ability to connect people, places and experiences.”

Route 66 experiences bring Springfield’s highway history to life

Visitors arriving for the centennial celebration will find that Springfield offers several ways to experience the story of Route 66 beyond the kickoff events. Museums, historic buildings and stretches of the original roadway help travelers see how the Mother Road shaped the city and the culture of American road travel.

One of the most comprehensive looks at that history appears at the History Museum on the Square. The museum’s Route 66 exhibit on the top floor explores the highway’s cultural influence through photographs, artifacts and interactive displays that trace the people, businesses and roadside traditions that grew along the legendary route.

Travelers can also experience the highway firsthand by driving portions of historic Route 66 that still run through Springfield. Along the route, visitors pass sites such as the Gillioz Theatre, a restored 1926 movie palace that opened the same year the highway was named, the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven, one of the country’s longest-operating Route 66 motor courts, and the neon-lit Steak ‘n Shake on St. Louis Street, a classic roadside diner that reflects the highway’s midcentury travel culture.

Beyond the Mother Road

While Route 66 history draws many visitors to Springfield, the city offers additional attractions that encourage travelers to stay longer and explore the Ozarks. From immersive wildlife exhibits to underground cave tours, these experiences highlight a different side of the region’s natural and cultural landscape.

One of Springfield’s most prominent attractions is the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, a sprawling complex founded by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. The museum and aquarium feature immersive exhibits highlighting conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife habitats from around the world. Visitors can explore massive aquariums filled with sharks and freshwater species, walk through detailed wildlife dioramas and engage with interactive displays that celebrate America’s natural beauty.

Another unique stop is Fantastic Caverns, the only ride-through cave tour in North America. Visitors explore the cavern aboard Jeep-drawn trams that wind through large underground chambers first discovered in 1862. The tour passes towering rock formations and narrow passageways, allowing guests to experience the cave’s scale and geology without navigating steep or confined spaces.

Families visiting Springfield often add a stop at Dickerson Park Zoo, a 50-acre zoo that is home to more than 450 animals from around the world. Exhibits featuring elephants, big cats and more allow visitors to connect with wildlife and learn about global preservation efforts.

Springfield’s historic districts offer coffee, restaurants and local flavor

Springfield’s historic districts give visitors an easy way to experience the city’s food scene while exploring its walkable downtown streets. Restaurants, cafes and bakeries clustered along Commercial Street and around Park Central Square offer everything from casual comfort food to international flavors.

Historic Commercial Street, often called C-Street, blends restored brick storefronts with independent restaurants and coffee shops. Blue Heron Farm & Bakery draws locals for flaky pastries, hearty breakfast plates and laid-back lunch dishes served in a relaxed, welcoming setting, while nearby Cafe Cusco serves Peruvian-inspired dishes like lomo saltado and arroz con mariscos in a colorful space that reflects the restaurant’s South American roots.

A few doors away, La Roux Bistro occupies one of C-Street’s most unusual historic buildings. Constructed in 1885, the red brick storefront rises only modestly above street level but extends downward into a series of stone-walled rooms. Renovations uncovered a hidden limestone cellar, once used for cold storage, that now serves as one of the restaurant’s atmospheric dining spaces. Today, the restored space serves New Orleans-inspired cuisine, including blue crab beignets, shrimp and grits and po’boys in a setting that reflects more than a century of Commercial Street history.

Downtown around Park Central Square, several locally owned cafes and restaurants offer convenient stops for travelers exploring the city center. The European serves breakfast plates and house-baked pastries, while nearby Asa Al-Furat offers strong coffee and Middle Eastern sweets. Mama G’s Kitchen provides a casual spot for quick meals, and Civil Kitchen offers a more refined dinner experience featuring American comfort dishes prepared with modern touches.

A milestone year for the Mother Road begins in Springfield

As Route 66 marks its 100th anniversary, Springfield stands at the center of the celebration. The city where the highway first received its name now welcomes travelers from across the country to honor the road that helped define American travel culture.

Visitors arriving for the centennial kickoff will find more than a historic milestone. From Route 66 museums and classic roadside landmarks to underground dining rooms, natural attractions and lively historic districts, Springfield offers plenty of reasons to explore the birthplace of the Mother Road during this once-in-a-century celebration.

Sage Scott is a travel writer and photographer who was bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time. She recently checked a classic road trip off her bucket list by driving all 2,448 miles of Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica. Follow her adventures at Everyday Wanderer.