Springfield: the birthplace of Route 66

In southwestern Missouri, Springfield claims the title of birthplace of the legendary Route 66, named right here in 1926.

The downtown, cradle of Route 66, requires a car to navigate between distant neighborhoods.

The Route 66 Car Museum displays classic cars along the road connecting Chicago to Los Angeles, which was born from a meeting held right in Springfield.

A few minutes away, the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, a flagship store with aquariums, indoor waterfalls and even a restaurant, remains one of Missouri's most visited attractions.

Heading toward the center, you visit the Springfield Art Museum, with collections of American art from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

In the evening, Commercial Street district comes alive with restaurants and bars in historic railroad buildings from downtown.

Route 66 officially took its name in 1926 during a meeting of the highway association held in Springfield, which has since claimed the title of the famous American highway's 'birthplace'.

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, founded in Springfield in 1972 as a small fishing supply store, has grown into a national chain while maintaining its headquarters in the original city.