USPS to Launch New Route 66 Forever Stamps – Check Out the Vibrant Collection

Celebrating a Century of Route 66 with Commemorative Stamps

Route 66, famously known as "The Mother Road," is marking its centennial this year. Established in November 1926, the highway stretches over 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. To honor this historic milestone, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is releasing a series of vibrant Forever stamps featuring iconic images from along the route.

The stamps will debut on May 5 at the National Postal Forum held at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona. This annual event brings together leaders in the mailing and shipping industries.

The stamp ceremony is set for 9:15 a.m. in the convention center lobby and is free to the public. Registration is encouraged, according to USPS officials.

The Route 66 Forever Stamps

This collection of eight Forever stamps includes captivating photographs by David J. Schwartz, a photographer who has taken over 40 trips along Route 66 in the past two decades. Schwartz’s snapshots depict various memorable landmarks, including:

• Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, featuring a blue 1957 Chevy Bel Air (captured in March 2016).
• The Original Brick Road in Auburn, Illinois, showcasing a 1929 Ford Model A (taken in May 2019).
• The Oil Capital Motel sign in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at sunrise (June 2022).
• The Grants Café sign in Grants, New Mexico (August 2012).
• Conoco Tower Station in Shamrock, Texas, as a storm approached (May 2020).
• Kan-O-Tex gas pump at Cars on the Route in Galena, Kansas (August 2011).
• A motel sign in Yucca, Arizona (August 2018).
• Beverly Hills City Hall in Beverly Hills, California (February 2023).

Schwartz will also be a featured speaker at the May 5 ceremony.

A Historic Road Ahead

Though Route 66 is not as frequently traveled today, its quirky attractions continue to draw tourists. The centennial celebration will officially commence on April 30 in Springfield, Missouri, the birthplace of the highway.

Additionally, the Road Ahead Partnership—a coalition from eight states along Route 66—has initiated efforts to revitalize the roadway and enhance tourism.

"Route 66 is more than just a road," said Bill Thomas, chairman of the Road Ahead Partnership. "It represented adventure, our spirit of freedom along the open road, and it’s been so important in the development of our nation."