What sweeter way to start this leg of my Route 66 road trip than with a visit to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard? This shop, which is walk-up window only, has been a St. Louis institution since 1929 and is known for making shakes so thick, you can turn the cup upside down with no spillage. And, yes, this is true even on the hottest day of summer. Some call them “concrete” shakes. 

Ask any Route 66 aficionado about Michael Wallis, and they’ll all agree – he can singlehandedly be credited with reviving interest in Route 66. Wallis grew up near the highway and lived in seven of the eight states. After it was decommissioned and he heard people start referring to it in the past tense, he knew he had to do something. After all, the highway may not have officially been on maps anymore, but all the people that made it what it was were still out there! In 1990, he published Route 66: The Mother Road. His book would inspire countless travelers, including John Lasseter, director of a little, old Disney film called Cars. Ever heard of it? 

While driving along, be sure to stop at the small town of Cuba, Missouri. Thanks to Viva Cuba, Inc., it has become known for its murals. Each one has to do with the history of Cuba, and you can download their app for a self-guided tour. While there, I met with mural artist Shelly Steiger working on a new piece, and she shared just how globally popular the town and Route 66 have become. In one day, while working on a mural, she might meet visitors from six different countries.

There’s nowhere quite like this stop on Route 66. Uranus, Missouri is a roadside pitstop with some… creative puns on the name. You’ll have to see how many I come across in this episode alone. One thing they do take seriously? Their freshly made fudge. While enjoying the potty humor, check out Uranus Fudge Factory and choose from their 18 different flavors (and 6 reduced sugar flavors). Of course, the two most popular flavors are, indeed, not a surprise.

There may be 67 Springfields in the United States but only one can claim to be the birthplace of Route 66. And Springfield, Missouri has proof! If you visit the city’s History Museum on the Square, you’ll find the telegram where the name “Route 66” was finalized. A number of planners met at the Colonial Hotel in Springfield where they decided that 66 was a much catchier number than 62. They then sent a telegram to Washington D.C. saying as much! The museum has even more on its history and is perfect for anyone who wants the full history of Mother Road.

Continuing along Route 66, I came to the Missouri town of Carthage. Here, you’ll find the Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum and learn more about the Civil War’s first full-scale land battle. It occurred on July 5, 1861, and consisted of Missourians fighting Missourians to see which side the state would fall under. I met with retired teacher Steve Cottrell to learn more about Carthage’s role in the war and the museum’s main message – “We don’t want to do this again!”

Which state has the smallest stretch of Route 66? That would be Kansas! With only 13.2 miles, I made one stop while driving through Gearhead Curios, located in a renovated 1939 Texaco gas station. Its curator, Aaron Perry, pulled over to take pictures one day, and upon seeing the “Sale by Owner” sign, he knew he had to buy. Not only is the building itself an icon of Route 66 but Aaron also turned the interior into a souvenir shop and a tourist information center. Not to mention – he has created a ton of photo ops as an ode to the highway’s history!

Moving on to our next state, Oklahoma is actually home to the longest stretch of the highway, clocking in at 400 miles. The first thing I had to do once we entered? Do some whale watching. That is – I pulled over to visit the beloved Blue Whale of Catoosa! It was designed by zoologist Hugh S. Davis in 1972 as a place for his grandchildren to play and swim. You can no longer swim in the nearby pond, but you can come and snap a photo of this iconic Oklahoma landmark.  

Tulsa is easily the coolest city in Oklahoma, and Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios is one of the many reasons why. Mary Beth Babcock founded the shop when she saw a 1950s PEMCO gas station for sale on Facebook. She then found a guy who had a muffler man mold and had him custom-make Buck Atom, cosmic cowboy. These days, she sells all sorts of cool souvenirs to make visitors smile. As she puts it, the limit is spac,e and space is infinite!

It would be egregious to visit Tulsa and not spend time in its Historic Greenwood District. Once upon a time, this district was known for its affluent Black community and nicknamed Black Wall Street. However, in 1921, it would witness the single worst incident of racial violence in American history – now known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. Overnight, over 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed and 300+ Black lives were lost. Today, Greenwood residents and entrepreneurs continue working to rebuild Black Wall Street and remind visitors of its past.

While in Tulsa, I visited the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza to meet with local author and photographer Rhys Martin. The plaza is named after the father of Route 66, and the nearby Eleventh Street Bridge serves as a midpoint for travelers. Avery was responsible for building this bridge over the Arkansas River, thus bringing people through Oklahoma. Previously, the most direct way from Chicago to LA was through Kansas, so this bridge was a game changer for the state.