Launching June 1: The Pier-to-Pier Podcast - The Route Sixty Six Americana Archive excited to announce that host Jason Spiess will be hitting the road for a unique, county-by-county journey along America’s most iconic highway — Route 66 — in honor of its 100th Anniversary.

From Cook County, Illinois to Los Angeles County, California, the Pier-to-Pier Podcast will spend one day in each of the 55+ counties along the Mother Road. We’ll be conducting live, roadside recording sessions that capture authentic, unfiltered conversations with the people who know it best.

Expect in-depth interviews with:

Local leaders & elected officials

Business owners & entrepreneurs

Content creators & storytellers

Artists & cultural stewards

Long-time Route 66 enthusiasts

This isn’t just another road trip podcast — it’s a moving documentary and celebration of the communities, businesses, and individuals that keep the spirit of Route 66 alive in its centennial year.

The journey begins June 1st.

If you’re along the route, a Route 66 advocate, or simply love great American storytelling, I invite you to follow along.

Who should we talk to? Drop a comment below with suggestions or connections — we’d love to hear from you.

Route66Turns100.com

Travelers continuing west from Oklahoma City on historic Route 66 soon discover a region where the plains begin to open wide, revealing layers of religious heritage, immigrant ambition, railroad ambition, and resilient small-town life.

This segment, though modest in distance, packs in a surprising variety of communities and landmarks that define the Mother Road’s character in western Oklahoma.

Bethany and Yukon: Faith, Growth, and Cultural Roots

The route first reaches Bethany, founded in 1909 as a haven for members of the Church of the Nazarene seeking a community aligned with their values. Named after the biblical Bethany, the town established Oklahoma Holiness College—now Southern Nazarene University—and quickly earned a reputation for strict blue laws that prohibited alcohol, tobacco, gambling, dancing, movies, and Sunday work.

Click on link for full feature

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/oklahomas-western-stretch-route-66

The Bates family continues to capture attention across social media with sharply diverging paths among its younger members.

Recent updates highlight three distinct storylines: a bridal milestone steeped in family tradition, a carefully curated vision of motherhood, and an ambitious cross-country adventure along historic Route 66.

Kaybrie Patterson Steps into Her Bridal Era

Kaybrie Patterson marked a significant moment in her relationship with Warden Bates by finding her wedding dress on the first try. In a warmly received photo series, she appeared in a casual white sequin dress and red cowboy boots, holding a vintage gold-framed chalkboard announcing the news.

The setting added layers of meaning: the appointment took place at Rene’s Bridal Couture, a venue long connected to both the Bates and Duggar families.

Click on link below for full feature

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/bates-family-branches-out-weddings

Launching June 1: The Pier-to-Pier Podcast - Route Sixty Six Americana Archive is excited to announce that host Jason Spiess will be hitting the road for a unique, county-by-county journey along America’s most iconic highway — Route 66 — in honor of its 100th Anniversary.

From Cook County, Illinois to Los Angeles County, California, the Pier-to-Pier Podcast will spend one day in each of the 55+ counties along the Mother Road. Conducting live, roadside recording sessions that capture authentic, unfiltered conversations with the people who know it best.

Expect in-depth interviews with:

Local leaders & elected officials

Business owners & entrepreneurs

Content creators & storytellers

Artists & cultural stewards

Long-time Route 66 enthusiasts and cast of characters

This isn’t just another road trip podcast — it’s a moving documentary and celebration of the communities, businesses, and individuals that keep the spirit of Route 66 alive in its centennial year.

The journey begins June 1st at the Navy Pier in City of Chicago. If you’re along the route, a Route 66 advocate, or simply love great storytelling, please follow the journey.

Know someone who we should we talk to? Drop a comment below with suggestions or connections — we’d love to hear from you.

The Spirit of the Mother Road…

The Pulse of the Pavement…

and the Voice of Main Street America.

Here are some dates/locations to note for Route Sixty Six Americana Archive's Pier-to-Pier Podcast

June 1 - The Navy Pier

June 2 - Beller Museum in Romeoville, Il (with special interview with Jordan Beller who has been collecting vintage Fords for over 80 years)

June 3 - Joliet, Il

June 12 - International Horseradish Festival on Route 66 in Collinsville, Il

June 22 - Route 66 Stadium in City of Springfield, Missouri

June 26-28 - AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa

June 29 - Cars on the Route in City of Galena, Kansas

June 30 - Mickey Mantle & Miami

July 2 - Will Rogers Attractions

July 4 - Rascals on Route 66 powered by Red Bull in City Of Sapulpa

July 7 - Route 66 in City of Oklahoma City

July 14 - Big Texan Steakhouse in City of Amarillo, TX

July 16 - Route 66's Famous Ghost Town Glenrio

July 20 - WHEELS Museum in ABQ

July 24-26 - Route 66 Rides powered by ExxonMobil in City of Gallup, New Mexico

Aug 1 - City of Seligman

Aug 2 - Dunton Motors Dream Machine on Route 66 in City Of Kingman

Aug 4 - Roy's Cafe in Amboy

Aug 6 - Santa Monica Pier and the End of Route 66  

This project is an officially approved project of the Route 66 Centennial Commission, the body appointed by the United States Congress to steward and honor the 100th anniversary of one of America’s most beloved national treasures.

Click on link below and follow the stories from the Mother Road!

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/

From the gleaming shores of Lake Michigan to the Pacific surf at Santa Monica Pier, Route 66 has long been the ultimate American pilgrimage. For Italian travelers Alessandro and Montesi (Monte), it became something more personal: the realization of a long-held dream, a 4,000-kilometer (roughly 2,500-mile) odyssey packed into just two weeks of pure adventure, frustration, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

“Ho appena realizzato un sogno,” Alessandro says early in the journey — I just realized a dream.

Starting in Chicago, the pair set out with high energy and minimal planning, aiming for Santa Monica in under 14 days.

What followed was less a polished road trip and more a classic buddy comedy unfolding across the heartland, deserts, and neon lights of the Mother Road.

Click on link below for full feature

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/two-italians-one-dream-conquering

Wonderhussy Adventures, the popular content creator known for her vibrant 1960s-inspired looks and deep dives into roadside Americana, is preparing for a full cross-country trek along the Mother Road.

After a recent test run from City of Seligman to Topock, State of Arizona, in a striking coral 1958 Edsel convertible, she confirmed that the real journey—with road trip companions William and Turbo—will be an ambitious multi-week undertaking filled with classic cars, nightly celebrations, and plenty of quirky discoveries.

The trip is part of a large organized caravan departing Santa Monica Pier on June 6 at 7:30 a.m., the group of approximately 60 vehicles will travel the historic route in reverse, from State of California to City of Chicago. Organizers chose the westward-to-eastward direction to ensure California stops receive full attention, as eastbound travelers often arrive fatigued.

The caravan promises daily photo stops and evening parties from roughly 5 to 7 p.m. in each host city, featuring the Big Texan’s giant fiberglass steer on a trailer—turning the procession into a rolling spectacle reminiscent of a circus coming to town.

Click link below for full feature

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/wonderhussy-embarks-on-epic-backwards

In a crowded field of Route 66 books filled with vintage photos, mile-by-mile guides, and historical timelines, Crystal Sershen delivers something genuinely different with Dust & Dreams. This is not another dry chronicle of the Mother Road. Instead, Sershen hands the microphone directly to Route 66 herself — personified as “Mama Road” — and lets her tell her own story in a rich, poetic, deeply personal voice.

Published in 2026 to coincide with the approaching centennial, the book presents itself as a memoir channeled through the author. From the opening lullaby in the Prologue to the prayer honoring the First Keepers (Native peoples), Dust & Dreams establishes an intimate, almost spiritual tone that sets it apart from traditional Route 66 literature.

Click link below for full feature

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/route-66-voices-dust-and-dreams-roadmap

In the blazing midday heat of the New Mexico desert, where the thermometer hits 40°C (104°F), Brazilian adventurer Eduardo Fumaco is changing a punctured motorcycle tire on the original stretch of Route 66. Sweat dripping, hands working methodically, he pauses to speak directly to the camera — and to his audience back home.

“Jamais reclamem,” he says firmly. Never complain.

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/flat-tire-on-the-mother-road-gratitude

The engines roar to life under a bright State of Missouri sun. Chrome glistens, exhaust pops, and a thousand memories roll down the street. This is more than a car parade — it’s the official kickoff of a century-long love affair with Route 66.

Springfield, Missouri — the Birthplace of Route 66 — threw an unforgettable celebration as over 300 classic cars took to the streets for the Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Parade. From pristine Mustangs and powerful Mopars to vintage trucks, quirky builds, and even the legendary Original Bigfoot Monster Truck, the lineup was a rolling museum of American automotive history.

The energy was electric from the very first moment. As the parade began, the soundtrack of the day blended perfectly with the rumble of big V8s:

Click on link for full feature and video

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/kickoff-on-the-mother-road-springfields

In the final leg of their epic Route 66 journey, travelers Justin and Riley pushed from Blue Creek Campground outside Tulsa, Oklahoma, through the brief Kansas corner, across Missouri, and into Illinois, completing their cross-country trek in Chicago. What began in the deserts and mountains of the West concluded with Midwestern hospitality, quirky roadside gems, and the satisfaction of reaching the Mother Road’s eastern terminus.

Waking after their first van thunderstorm (Riley a bit rattled, but they powered through), the pair wrapped up Oklahoma and crossed into Kansas. The state’s Route 66 footprint is famously short—just a quick corner—but they made it count with a stop at the Miami Visitor Center for a passport stamp, followed by tea at the charming Loose Leaf shop next door.

The standout Kansas highlight was Gearheads Curios, an eclectic souvenir shop with an unforgettable restroom billed as “the most photographed bathroom on Route 66.”

Click link for full feature

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/we-made-it-finishing-our-2400-mile

There’s something poetic about starting at the end. For the Alex Taylor Racing crew, day one of their California-to-Arkansas road trip begins not at a traditional starting line, but at the symbolic terminus of Route 66. It’s a fitting launch point for a journey meant to celebrate the highway’s 100th anniversary—a milestone that invites reflection, exploration, and, in this case, a full-throttle tribute in a pair of classic performance machines: a Nova and a Camaro.

This isn’t just a road trip. It’s a rolling celebration of car culture, craftsmanship, and the enduring spirit of the Mother Road.

The Route 66 trip begins at the end, the Santa Monica Pier. Which was the start on this trip.

But first, Alex Taylor and the team stopped at Scat Enterprises, a name well known in performance circles.

Here, the focus shifts from open-road cruising to the intricate art of engine building.

https://route66americanaarchive.substack.com/p/route-66-road-trip-kicks-off-from