Wagon Road to Mother Road Exhibit

2025 27 Dec

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:

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
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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
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Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Friday, February 27, 2026
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Sunday, March 1, 2026
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Thursday, March 5, 2026
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Friday, March 27, 2026

Wagon Road to Mother Road Exhibit

Upcoming Dates For This Event:

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