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