Historic Resource Survey
Route 66 (West College Street)
Springfield, Missouri
in progress
Route 66, the famed all-American highway, runs through Springfield, Missouri on the locally named West College Street. The “Route 66” name was selected in 1926 during a meeting at one of Springfield’s hotels, and by the mid-twentieth century Route 66 became one of the most traveled highways in the country. To accommodate travelers, numerous motor courts and automobile service stations were constructed along the highway in Springfield, providing a place for weary travelers to rest and refuel.
Cassandra and Katie were hired by the City of Springfield to complete an intensive-level survey of over 200 properties along West College Street (Route 66) which is just west of Springfield’s downtown. The survey area is primarily commercial in nature, but a few residential resources are scattered throughout. Commercial resources include multiple motor courts, restaurants, gas stations, and service stations. Several books, journal and newspaper articles, maps, and photographs from online and physical repositories will be collected and analyzed to document the survey area’s rich history.
