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GeogWeb Project8 states · 71 stopsGrades 4–8

Route 66 turns 100.

On November 11, 1926, Route 66 became a highway. For its 100th birthday, classes from Chicago to Santa Monica, and from far off the road, each adopt a stop. This spring they'll record its stories and photograph it then and now, and together they'll write the first edition of the student guidebook to the Mother Road.

Join a stop

42 days until Route 66 Day · 0 classes have joined so far

1926 · 2026U S66
How the year goes
NowJoin a stop Pick the stop nearest your school. Any number of classes can join.
Nov 11, 2026Route 66 Day Route 66 turns 100. Teach the free one-period kickoff lesson.
January 2027Activities open The five activities land in your ClassJax planner.
Jan – AprYour class works Road stories, then-and-now photos and facts for your stop.
May 2027First edition publishes The guidebook, Chicago to Santa Monica, written by students.
The whole road

Find your stop

Pick the stop closest to your school so students can visit and interview people who live there. Every class adds to its stop's page.

Chicago St. Louis Galena Quapaw Shamrock Tucumcari Holbrook Needles Santa Monica
Classes joined (bigger dot = more classes)No class yetClick a dot or a state below

Not on Route 66?

Join from anywhere. Research a stop from afar and trade stories with a class that lives there.
This spring

What your class will make

A road story

Students interview someone who remembers the road, record it and pull the best quote.

Then & now photos

Find a historic photo of your stop, stand in the same spot and take it again.

Your part of the guidebook

Your stories, photos and facts go on your stop's page next to other classes' work, credited to your class.

Wednesday, November 11

Route 66 Day

A free one-period lesson for the centennial. Students trace the road across eight states, do some road-trip math and write a postcard from a stop. No sign-up needed to teach it.

See the lessonPrint postcards

Kickoff gallery

Opens Nov 11
Postcard from Tulsa
Postcard from Amarillo
Postcard from Santa Monica
Postcard from Joliet
Photos of student work only. No faces or names.
Questions

Before you join

Research starting pointsGateway to Oklahoma History
Digitized Oklahoma newspapers and photosLibrary of Congress photos
Historic images, many free to useNational Park Service: Route 66
History and places along the whole route
What does it cost?

Joining a stop is free with a ClassJax teacher account.

Can more than one class join a stop?

Yes. Every class at a stop adds its own road stories, photos and facts, and the stop's guidebook page credits every class. Busy stops like Tulsa get richer, not crowded.

We're not on Route 66. Can we join?

Yes. Pick any stop to research from afar, and we'll pair you with a class that lives there so you can trade road stories.

My town is on Route 66 but not on the list.

Suggest it when you join. You can also suggest a specific landmark at a busy stop. We review suggestions every week.

How much class time does it take?

About 10 class periods between January and April, plus one field trip if you can. Route 66 Day on Nov 11 is a single period.

What about student privacy?

Students are credited by class or by code. Every recorded interview needs a signed release before it can be published.

Be in the first edition.

Join a stop now. The guidebook publishes in May 2027.

Join a stop
GeogWeb ProjectsRoute 66 · 1926–2026