City 66

Graphical poster with a partial background of an off-white map of the St. Louis area. It shows a United States highway shield with "CITY 66" inside it and "AT NATIONAL BUILDING ARTS CENTER" around the outside. The poster has further text in various formats: City 66: The Other Road. Streets, Suburbs, Smokestacks. Opening Aug 22, Exhibition Aug27-Oct 17, Free Admission, Curated by Michael Allen.

August 22 – October 17, 2026

2026 marks the centennial of Route 66—one hundred years since the road was commissioned and the country started driving it. Across America, the anniversary is being celebrated with nostalgia for the open road. Everyone knows the neon signs, roadside diners, and the long stretch out to California. At NBAC, we’re telling a different story.

NBAC opens City 66 this August showing The Other Road, with an outdoor exhibition drawn from our collection of architectural fragments recovered from buildings along the route itself. Not reproductions, but the actual stone, terra cotta, and cast iron.

Admission to the outdoor exhibition is free. City 66 is curated by Michael Allen.

Schedule

  • August 22, 2:00 pm: Opening and Symposium
  • August 27 to October 17: Regular hours (Thursday 1–5 PM, Friday 9 AM–5 PM, Saturday 9 AM–5 PM)
  • October 3: Bus tour
  • October 17: Last day