Route 66 was not designed to be legendary. It was designed to move farm goods, connect small towns to bigger markets, and serve the interests of the people who helped lay it out. The number was chosen because it rolled off the tongue. The path was chosen for commerce and politics. And when it was officially established in 1926, Arizona did not even finish paving its stretch for another twelve years.

So how does a dirt road with a number become the most beloved highway in the world?

This episode tells the full story. From Cyrus Avery's political maneuvering in 1926, to the Dust Bowl families who depended on it with their lives, to the complicated truth about who the road welcomed and who it did not. From Bobby Troup writing a song on a drive west, to the afternoon in 1978 when the traffic through Seligman simply stopped. From the day Route 66 was officially decertified in 1985, to the barber in Seligman who refused to let it stay dead.

In 2026, the road turns one hundred years old. Arizona holds the longest continuous drivable stretch in the nation. And the communities along it are not just surviving the centennial. They are building toward it.

This is the story of how that happened. Not the bumper sticker version. The real one.

New episodes of Arizona Route 66: The Podcast release regularly at arizonapodcast.com.

🎙️ Arizona Route 66: The Podcast is produced by Table 66 Productions and hosted by Christopher and Mary Tuttle, semi-retired Chaplains traveling the Main Street of America.

#route66 #arizonapodcast #motherroad #route66centennial

What Makes Arizona the Playground of Route 66? That's not a rhetorical question. It's 385.2 miles of answer.

Chris and Mary Tuttle are back on the Mother Road for Season 4, and they are driving the whole thing , New Mexico border to the Colorado River, east to west, the way it was meant to be traveled.

Nineteen towns. A meteor crater that trained the Apollo astronauts. Wild donkeys with their own main street. The longest continuous stretch of original Route 66 still in existence. And a road that turns one hundred years old in 2026 with everything still left to say.

This episode covers every major stop on Arizona's stretch of the Mother Road; Holbrook, Joseph City, Winslow, Flagstaff, Seligman, Peach Springs, Hackberry, Kingman, Oatman, and the Colorado River at Topock, with centennial events, honest travel recommendations, and the kind of conversation that feels less like a tour and more like riding along with two people who actually know this road.

Route 66 turns 100 this year. Arizona owns the headline. Come find out why.

📖 Learn more: https://arizonapodcast.com🎙️ Arizona Route 66: The Podcast is a production of Table 66 Productions. Hosted by Chris and Mary Tuttle, The Route 66 Chaplain and his co-adventurer on the Main Street of America.

#FaithAndGoodCourage #faithgoodcourage #Route66Chaplain #ChristopherTuttle #RoadsideWisdom #Rule66 #HealingHighway #KindnessForTheRoad #QuietStrength #WitWisdomAndDinerMoments #GraceOnTheGo #route66 #arizonapodcast #motherroad #route66centennial

This isn’t a full Arizona Podcast episode — it’s a preview of my new project, Faith and Good Courage. A spoken-word podcast and vodcast for the road-weary and the soul-searchers. Season 1 launches soon, so if you like what you hear, follow Faith and Good Courage on Spotify or at FaithAndGoodCourage.com.

“Follow Faith and Good Courage on Spotify / Apple / or at FaithAndGoodCourage.com.”

Another chance to share time with an ol' friend. I joined America's Storyteller Jim Hinckley on his Live podcast "Coffee With Jim" on Sunday morning March 23, 2025 to talk about our new podcast "Tri-State Podcast" and wanted to share his podcast with you. I'm honored to have built a wonderful working and personal friendship with Jim the last couple of years and can't wait to celebrate the Centennial of Route 66 in 2026. To learn more about Jim and Jim Hinkley's America, please visit https://jimhinckleysamerica.com/

From Jim Hinckley's America Website:

What do the London Bridge, Route 66 (the highway and the classic television program), casinos, an historic Harvey House and railroad depot, lively Mojave Desert ghost towns, kayaking the Topock Gorge on the Colorado River, and a town where the mayor is a burro have in common? They are all the focus of the exciting new Tri State Podcast and today's conversation with podcaster Chris Tuttle.

It's another smile inducing, road trip inspiring shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and let Jim Hinckley, and today's guest Chris Tuttle, tell you where to go.

Chris and Mary of Arizona Podcast share time at the Grand Canyon Caverns and Inn in Peach Springs Arizona on Route 66. The Caverns prepare to reopen to the public on February 1, 2025 after closing the caverns in 2021 due to an elevator issue. Chris talks with Vickie Orcutt, Roxanne Davis and Paul Jorgenson about the past, present and the future of this classic Mother Road attraction which opened in 1926. Although the caverns are some 17+ million year old, the location celebrates their Centennial with Route 66 in 2026!

Take in the awe inspiring Grand Canyon Caverns located along Route 66 in Northern Arizona. These are the largest dry caverns in the United States, located 200 to 300 feet below the surface, and accessible via the exploration elevator. Located in the middle of 3,000,000 acres of the most unspoiled land left in the world, enjoy clean air, clear skies, open prairies, and a refreshing change of scenery from the urban world. They feature cavern tours that are easily accessible along paved walkways with handrails and for the more adventurous, off-path ‘Explorers Tours’. Featuring a Motel, Dinner, Gift Shop, classic Route 66 Gas Station, their own Airstrip, RV camping area with full hookups, a Rodeo Ring that regularly holds cowboy events, and of course the world famous Caverns, they offer all the amenities needed for an enjoyable visit and stay. Located close to the beautiful Supai Falls and a short distance to the Grand Canyon and rafting on the Colorado river, the Grand Canyon Caverns is the perfect home base for visiting all the great adventures located around the Grand Canyon and in Northern Arizona.

Chris and Mary of Arizona Podcast are excited to discuss their new new programs to their Podcast; "Arizona Route 66: The Podcast", dedicated to just that; ARIZONA ROUTE 66. In addition to the podcast, they have created an online calendar; "Arizona Route 66: The Calendar" supporting the Podcast to help illustrate the fun and amazing events on Route 66 in the state of Arizona. It has taken a lot of thought, time and creativity on their part and is an ongoing project with a laundry list of ideas that will be added. What to include? What NOT to include? How to obtain the information about ALL the events on Arizona Route 66 that would entice those on a Mother Road-Road Trip to stop and most importantly, support the many small town businesses on the Main Street Of America.

Arizona Route 66, is a 385.2 mile journey through time! “…There is a spirit, a feeling that resides along this highway. The spirit of Route 66 lives in the people and their stories, the views and buildings, and travelers’ perceptions of the highway. Today’s travelers can still experience a remarkable journey traveling through time on Route 66.”

Coming in November 2024 are two new projects focussed on The Main Street Of America; Arizona Route 66. They are - "Arizona Route 66: The Podcast" AND "Arizona Route 66: The Calendar".

The Arizona Route 66 Events Calendar is broken down to make it easier for those seeking specific events where you can see everything or by a Category. The ongoing events not listed on the Event Calendar include some fun activities like walking tours, ghost towns, must see and maybe not so much go see Arizona locations and really oddities along the mother Road. For those that are planning their Route 66 Centennial Road Trip in 2026? We have some events already being planned and promoted. These events will then be moved to the main calendar as we get closer.

We invited Google's AI hosts to visit our new website and give their point of view of its contents and WOW, were we surprised! So much so, we wanted to share as a sneak peek as to what is coming in November... Enjoy!