Barstow Marks 100 Years of Route 66 with Heritage Park Ribbon Cutting

BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES, November 4, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The City of Barstow will mark the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 66 with a free community celebration and the ribbon cutting of the new Main Street Heritage Park. The event, which follows the highway's official 100th anniversary on November 11, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 14.

Long before Route 66 carried travelers west, Barstow was already a bustling railroad crossroads in the Mojave Desert. In 1925, Main Street moved to the route that would become U.S. Highway 66, welcoming Dust Bowl families heading to California and generations of road-trippers. Today, Barstow's historic Main Street still offers glimpses of that era through its colorful murals and vintage motel signs. Nearby, the 1911 Casa del Desierto Harvey House is home to the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, while the site of the original Del Taco restaurant recalls another chapter of the city's roadside history.

Formerly the Route 66 Pocket Park at First Avenue and Main Street, Heritage Park now features accessible pathways, shade canopies, seating, landscaping, and a new monument sign. The project is part of the city's first phase of Main Street improvements.

The celebration will also feature the reveal of the official Route 66 Centennial Time Capsule placement and plaque, filled with symbolic items from agencies across the Barstow community, which will not be opened again for 50 years.

Event Details: - WHAT: Centennial Event and Main Street Heritage Park Ribbon Cutting - WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - WHERE: Main Street Heritage Park, First Avenue and Main Street, Barstow - WHO: Mayor Tim Silva, Brendan O'Brien, co-owner of the Route 66 Mother Road Museum - MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: The event will feature classic cars, live music, food trucks, retail vendors, and family activities. Accreditation is not required for media coverage.

The City of Barstow, located in the heart of the Mojave Desert, encompasses approximately 41 square miles and is home to about 25,000 residents. Incorporated in 1947, Barstow is a vibrant and resilient community that serves as a regional crossroads, where Interstates 15 and 40 and State Route 58 converge, connecting major transportation corridors and playing an important role in commerce, travel, and logistics throughout Southern California.