At the southwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and St. Louis Street, Birthplace Plaza is being constructed on hallowed ground: the very site of the Colonial Hotel, where, in 1926, a group of visionary leaders gathered and sent the telegram that officially christened the highway “Route 66.”
With the dedication of a sculptural work, mural and interpretive kiosk at Birthplace Plaza, Springfield embeds its origin story in stone metal and light, reclaiming the corner as a wayfinder for travelers and a place of pilgrimage for Route 66 fans. This space will serve as both a historical marker and a... beacon—a gathering place that bridges past and future, honoring the cultural importance of the road that began here.
This event will take place exactly 100 years to the time and date the telegram went to Washington D.C.
We will be Southwest corner of Jefferson Ave. and St. Louis St.
Funded by the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission and Rotary Clubs of Springfield
Supported by Missouri State University and City of Springfield
