Wagon Road to Mother Road Exhibit
2026
20
Mar
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:
- Saturday, March 21
- Sunday, March 22
- Monday, March 23
- Tuesday, March 24
- Wednesday, March 25
- Thursday, March 26
- Friday, March 27
- Saturday, March 28
- Sunday, March 29
- Monday, March 30
- Tuesday, March 31
- Wednesday, April 1
- Thursday, April 2
- Friday, April 3
- Saturday, April 4
- Sunday, April 5
- Monday, April 6
- Tuesday, April 7
- Wednesday, April 8
- Thursday, April 9
- Friday, April 10
- Saturday, April 11
- Sunday, April 12
- Monday, April 13
- Tuesday, April 14
- Wednesday, April 15
- Thursday, April 16
- Friday, April 17
- Saturday, April 18
- Sunday, April 19
- Monday, April 20
- Tuesday, April 21
- Wednesday, April 22
- Thursday, April 23
- Friday, April 24
- Saturday, April 25
- Sunday, April 26
- Monday, April 27
- Tuesday, April 28
- Wednesday, April 29
- Thursday, April 30
- Friday, May 1
- Saturday, May 2
- Sunday, May 3
- Monday, May 4
- Tuesday, May 5
- Wednesday, May 6
- Thursday, May 7
- Friday, May 8
- Saturday, May 9
- Sunday, May 10
- Monday, May 11
- Tuesday, May 12
- Wednesday, May 13
- Thursday, May 14
- Friday, May 15
- Saturday, May 16
- Sunday, May 17
- Monday, May 18
- Tuesday, May 19
- Wednesday, May 20
- Thursday, May 21
- Friday, May 22
- Saturday, May 23
- Sunday, May 24
- Monday, May 25
- Tuesday, May 26
- Wednesday, May 27
- Thursday, May 28
- Friday, May 29
- Saturday, May 30
- Sunday, May 31
- Monday, June 1
- Tuesday, June 2
- Wednesday, June 3
- Thursday, June 4
- Friday, June 5
- Saturday, June 6
- Sunday, June 7
- Monday, June 8
- Tuesday, June 9
- Wednesday, June 10
- Thursday, June 11
- Friday, June 12
- Saturday, June 13
- Sunday, June 14
- Monday, June 15
- Tuesday, June 16
- Wednesday, June 17
- Thursday, June 18
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