Route 66 Celebrates 100 Years of American Adventure

America's most beloved highway is turning 100, and the celebration is bringing communities together in a journey across the heartland.

Steve Doocy from Fox & Friends kicked off a three-day road trip along Route 66 this week, marking the upcoming centennial of the historic roadway that stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. The timing couldn't be better as the nation also prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday.

The adventure began in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Doocy discovered how the city's Art Deco architecture tells the story of America's oil boom era. At Decopolis, a Route 66-themed shop, owner William Franklin explained how Tulsa's artistic identity was shaped during the road's early days.

"A lot of Art Deco here because when Tulsa had its oil boom days, it was during the Art Deco era, and it was also at the beginning of Route 66," Franklin shared. The shop's name, Tulsarama, honors Oklahoma's semi-centennial celebration decades ago.

Thousands of classic cars are expected to join centennial events along the route. Doocy showcased a classic Mustang during his live segment, highlighting how car enthusiasts are keeping the spirit of the open road alive.

The Ripple Effect

Content creator Cory Williams captured what makes Route 66 more than just pavement and paint. "Route 66 connects the country together," he told Doocy. "It's what brings us together and allows us to have joy along the way."

That connection shows up in the small businesses and local artists who call Route 66 home. From Tulsa's vintage shops to the classic car displays, communities along the Mother Road are preserving American history while creating new memories.

Doocy's journey continues through Kansas before ending in Springfield, Missouri, where the official centennial kickoff celebration will take place. Along the way, he's stopping at local spots and meeting the people who prove the highway's legacy isn't about the past but about the connections we make today.

A century after it first opened, Route 66 still invites Americans to slow down, explore their own backyard, and remember that sometimes the best part of reaching your destination is the journey itself.