TACOMA, Wash. — America’s Automotive Trust (AAT) has introduced a revamped Route 66 exhibition at LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, marking the approach to the centennial celebration of this historic highway and the organization’s forthcoming cross-country event, The Drive Home VII – Route 66: A Century of Adventure.
The newly updated exhibition, which opened its doors this week, showcases fresh centennial-themed design elements, vehicles, and artifacts that pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of Route 66, often hailed as America’s most iconic highway. This exhibition has consistently been a favorite among museum-goers and has now been enhanced to highlight the importance of this milestone anniversary.
The revitalized display comes just weeks ahead of AAT’s launch of the seventh edition of The Drive Home, a cross-country journey that has traditionally been organized in collaboration with the Detroit Auto Show. This event was initially established to honor American car culture and the custom of driving vehicles “home” to Detroit, the heart of the nation’s automotive industry.
For the 2026 edition, AAT and the Detroit Auto Show, working alongside the Route 66 Centennial Commission, will traverse the entirety of Route 66. The drive will feature nine official vehicles and nearly two dozen additional participants, known as “privateers,” who will follow the convoy in their own cars as it travels across the country.
Throughout 2026, the Route 66 exhibition at LeMay – America’s Car Museum will continue to evolve, showcasing films and artifacts collected during the drive. Visitors will be able to view memorabilia from the journey and gain insight into the experience of traveling the historic route during its centennial year.
Four of the nine vehicles scheduled to participate in the drive will depart from the Tacoma museum this Saturday via transport en route to Santa Monica, California. The official kickoff of The Drive Home VII and the Route 66 centennial celebration will take place on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the iconic Mel’s Diner in Santa Monica.
From there, the caravan will begin its journey east along the historic Route 66 corridor, with organizers inviting automotive enthusiasts and supporters to follow along or join portions of the drive.
More information about the drive, including the full itinerary and participation details, is available through America’s Automotive Trust.
America’s Automotive Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the nation’s automotive heritage and inspiring future generations of enthusiasts and innovators. Its founding members include LeMay – America’s Car Museum, the RPM Foundation, Club Auto, and Concours Club.
