Back in 2016, the American Indigenous Tourism Association teamed up with the National Park Service to publish the American Indians and Route 66 guidebook. It’s the go-to resource for anyone wanting to explore the real history, check out vibrant cultures and support Native-owned businesses all along the Mother Road. To see Native attractions on or near Route 66, click on the map below.
Since publishing the guide, AIT has expanded the number of indigenous attractions on the Destination Native America map. Follow the Route on our map to find the Tribes and opportunities to experience Native lands, enjoy the art and cuisine, and learn about the cultures. Click here to go to the Map.
History
Route 66 was an officially commissioned highway from 1926 to 1985. During its lifetime, the road guided travelers through the lands of more than 25 tribal nations. Over half of Route 66 lies in Indian Country—roughly 1,372 miles.
It was a give-and-take relationship between the asphalt and the American Indian people, from the physical intrusion of the road onto American Indian lands to the new commerce it introduced.
American Indian stereotypes were propagated and used as a major lure for tourists on this “Mother Road” of American highways and the evidence lingers. Faded billboards, rusty metal tipis and concrete ‘wigwams’ beckon from the roadside, evidence not of the tribe they were meant to represent, but of tourism marketing savvy.
Today, the road can break these stereotypes as visitors actively share the distinct art, cultures and histories of Indigenous Peoples. American Indians and Route 66 were made possible through the consultation and participation of many of the Tribes along the route.
Route 66 begins in Grant Park, Chicago. It ends near the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. This iconic highway spans more than 2,400 miles across the United States.
The American Indigenous Tourism Association, in partnership with the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, published the American Indians and Route 66 Guidebook. The expansion of Destination Native America was supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund and the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. Destination Native America is an official part of the Route 66 Centennial Commission projects. You can find us on the Centennial Commission website.
