Wagon Road to Mother Road Exhibit
2025
17
Nov
recurring event
Wagon Road to Mother Road invites you to journey through America’s transformative era of road travel.
This engaging exhibition traces the evolution of travel in northern Arizona from the Beale Wagon Road to Route 66 and reveals its deep imprint on landscapes, communities and highway heritage. It coincides with the Route 66 Centennial, marking 100 years since the highway’s designation on Nov. 11, 1926.
Based on the museum’s archaeological surveys in Petrified Forest National Park, the exhibit uncovers Route 66’s wilder side—stories of revelry, hardship, and tragedy revealed through tens of thousands of discarded objects that challenge the highway’s more nostalgic image. “The story of Route 66 is written in trash that speaks to lazy habits, mechanical failures, and the lives lost in car crashes,” observes David Purcell, the exhibit curator and MNA supervisory archaeologist and historian. Wagon Road to Mother Road highlights vintage artifacts, maps, music and memorabilia that bring the legendary road to life. Featured items include a 1931 Ford Model A pickup, a hand-painted Route 66 map, and mid-century Phillips 66 gas pump. Liquor bottles, soda bottles, and oil cans uncovered by MNA archaeologists will also be on display.Upcoming Dates For This Event:
- Tuesday, November 18
- Wednesday, November 19
- Thursday, November 20
- Friday, November 21
- Saturday, November 22
- Sunday, November 23
- Monday, November 24
- Tuesday, November 25
- Wednesday, November 26
- Thursday, November 27
- Friday, November 28
- Saturday, November 29
- Sunday, November 30
- Monday, December 1
- Tuesday, December 2
- Wednesday, December 3
- Thursday, December 4
- Friday, December 5
- Saturday, December 6
- Sunday, December 7
- Monday, December 8
- Tuesday, December 9
- Wednesday, December 10
- Thursday, December 11
- Friday, December 12
- Saturday, December 13
- Sunday, December 14
- Monday, December 15
- Tuesday, December 16
- Wednesday, December 17
- Thursday, December 18
- Friday, December 19
- Saturday, December 20
- Sunday, December 21
- Monday, December 22
- Tuesday, December 23
- Wednesday, December 24
- Thursday, December 25
- Friday, December 26
- Saturday, December 27
- Sunday, December 28
- Monday, December 29
- Tuesday, December 30
- Wednesday, December 31
- Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Friday, January 2, 2026
- Saturday, January 3, 2026
- Sunday, January 4, 2026
- Monday, January 5, 2026
- Tuesday, January 6, 2026
- Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Friday, January 9, 2026
- Saturday, January 10, 2026
- Sunday, January 11, 2026
- Monday, January 12, 2026
- Tuesday, January 13, 2026
- Wednesday, January 14, 2026
- Thursday, January 15, 2026
- Friday, January 16, 2026
- Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Monday, January 19, 2026
- Tuesday, January 20, 2026
- Wednesday, January 21, 2026
- Thursday, January 22, 2026
- Friday, January 23, 2026
- Saturday, January 24, 2026
- Sunday, January 25, 2026
- Monday, January 26, 2026
- Tuesday, January 27, 2026
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Friday, January 30, 2026
- Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Sunday, February 1, 2026
- Monday, February 2, 2026
- Tuesday, February 3, 2026
- Wednesday, February 4, 2026
- Thursday, February 5, 2026
- Friday, February 6, 2026
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Sunday, February 8, 2026
- Monday, February 9, 2026
- Tuesday, February 10, 2026
- Wednesday, February 11, 2026
- Thursday, February 12, 2026
- Friday, February 13, 2026
- Saturday, February 14, 2026
- Sunday, February 15, 2026
Contact Information
- Admission: Wagon Road to Mother Road exhibition is included with Museum admission. General admission: <b>$18 </b>Seniors 65 and up: <b>$16 </b>Native Americans: <b>$13 </b>Youths 10-17: <b>$13 </b>Children 9 and under: <b>Free</b>
- Location: Museum of Northern Arizona
- 3101 North Fort Valley Road
- Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Email: info@musnaz.org
- Phone: (928) 774-5213