Springfield, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri, is considered the birthplace of Route 66, because it was here that its route number was conceived. The group of business leaders who proposed a federal highway from Chicago to Los Angeles initially wanted it numbered Route 60. But another group wanted Route 60 for a transcontinental highway starting in Virginia Beach. At a meeting in Springfield, Missouri, the Chicago-to-Los-Angeles group sent a telegram to Washington suggesting Route 66 as an alternative. Their proposal was accepted, and Route 66 was born.

Route 60, as it happens, initially ended in Springfield, Missouri, and continues to run through there today.

Springfield, Missouri, once had two different Route 66s at the same time. The original 1926 alignment goes through the middle of town. When traffic became too heavy by 1936, a second Route 66 bypassing the downtown area was designated. So starting in 1936 there were two Route 66s through Springfield: “City 66” and “Bypass 66.”

We entered Springfield on MO 744, which becomes Kearney Street and Bypass 66. We passed the great neon sign of the Rest Haven Court.

Rest Haven Court in Springfield, Missouri (from DrivingRoute66.com)

But we decided City 66 would be more interesting, so we turned onto it by making a left on Glenstone Avenue. There are a lot of old motels along here including the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven at 203 South Glenstone Avenue, where we spent the night.

Current sign at Best Western Rail Haven in Springfield, Missouri

The Rail Haven opened here in 1938, but the original buildings are mostly gone. There’s still a lot of history here. City 66 turns right (west) here on East Saint Louis Street, and the sign directing travelers has been restored.

Springfield, Missouri, directional sign at Best Western Rail Haven

The original Rail Haven neon sign has been replicated and erected along East Saint Louis Street.

Reproduction of the Rail Haven's original neon sign

As Best Western has updated its signage, the Rail Haven kept the older signs.

An old Best Western sign at the Rail Haven

Another old Best Western sign at the Rail Haven

Another old sign has been preserved.

Another old Rail Haven sign

The next morning we continued on Saint Louis Street, which is City 66. We passed one of the oldest Steak n Shakes still operating at 1158 East Saint Louis Street.

Steak n Shake on East Saint Louis Street in Springfield, Missouri (from Waymarking.com)

As City 66 approaches Park Central Square in the center of Springfield, East Saint Louis Street becomes Park Central East. Here is the Gillioz Theatre at 325 Park Central East.

1926 Gillioz Theatre in Springfield, Missouri (from nps.gov)

The theatre opened in 1926. Its style is called Spanish Colonial Revival.

Past Park Central Square, City 66 becomes Park Central West and then West College Street. Here are three old motels built of local Ozark “giraffe” stone.

The adorable 1920 (hey, that's really old!) Rockwood Motor Court is at 2200 West College Street.

1920 Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield, Missouri (from RockwoodCourt.com)

The rooms have been recently restored. We’d love to stay there the next time we visit Springfield, Missouri.

Further down the block, at 2238 West College Street, is the 1935 Shamrock Court Motel with its original sign.

1935 Shamrock Court in Springfield, Missouri (from TheAlternativeTourist.com)

And on the next block is the 1945 Rock Fountain Court at 2400 West College Street.

1945 Rock Fountain Court in Springfield, Missouri (from Waymarking.com)

A few blocks later, City Route 66 merges into Bypass 66, and Route 66 leaves Springfield, Missouri, on the West Chestnut Expressway (MO 266). We were on our way to several more Missouri towns along Route 66, starting with Plano.