Preserving Americana - Revitalizing Route 66 Landmarks

Telling the stories along Route 66 in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

A close-up of historic Route Sixty-Six stretching out in a dry desert landscape with mountains in the distance.

Telling the stories along Route 66 in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Take a ride with Benjamin Moore on Route 66 as we help to revitalize historic locations set along a road that has not only become iconic for travel in the United States but has captured the imagination of people around the world.

Benjamin Moore and the National Trust for Historic Preservation (National Trust) are giving much-needed attention to several stops on Route 66, helping to tell their diverse and meaningful stories and refresh key pieces of Americana—from photo-op signs and motels to tribal landmarks and more.

As we embark on a journey across the legendary Route 66, we look toward the road’s 100-year celebration in 2026. Check back often as our focus on community care comes to life through the transformative power of paint and the 3,500+ colors we offer.

A historic Route Sixty-Six road sign stands alone in a desert landscape with a cloudy blue sky.

Be a Part of the Route 66 Preservation

In addition to donating our premium products, Benjamin Moore is proudly providing funding to this multiyear campaign for restoring historic landmarks.

We’d love to hear from you too. Visit the National Trust’s Share Your Route 66 Story to share your favorite place, trip, or business along Route 66. By sharing your memories, you will help us capture what makes it so special—and leave a trail for others to follow.

The Galena Mining and Historical Museum in Galena, Kansas.

Galena Mining & Historical Museum
Galena, Kansas

Once a booming mining town with a population of nearly 30,000 people, Galena at its height was one of the most important areas in the country outside of New York City.

What is now the Galena Mining & Historical Museum used to be the Missouri-Kansas-Texas train depot situated along Route 66 on Main Street in Galena. Moved to its current location in 1984, the museum is filled with artifacts reflecting the history of the town, which once flourished on the mining of lead and zinc.

The town itself is a comeback story, discovered by new visitors annually as one of the must-see destinations and historic sites along the route.

Watch the museum’s transformation and learn more about this revered location on Route 66.

The Road Runner’s Retreat Sign sits along a dry desert highway with a cloudy blue sky and mountains in the distance.

Road Runner’s Retreat Sign
Near Chambless, California

Located east of Amboy, California, the Road Runner’s Retreat restaurant and service station opened in the early 1960s, welcoming guests with its neon sign. The buildings were constructed in the Googie style of architecture—influenced by car culture and hypermodernism—and quickly became an essential stop on Route 66 as well as a place where travelers looking for work could fill a job opening. Though the Road Runner's Retreat closed in 1973, the restaurant was dressed up as the “Expressway Diner” to set the scene for a TV commercial in 1986.

The 30-foot Road Runner’s Retreat sign still stands today, a historic landmark that awaits tourists as they drive through California’s Mojave Desert. Come back soon to learn more about the Road Runner's Retreat, its unforgettable sign transformation, and the story of how this Route 66 destination was loved by three families over the decades.

The Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Blue Swallow Motel
Tucumcari, NM

Located in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Blue Swallow Motel is the most celebrated motel on Route 66.

Open since 1941 and originally named the Blue Swallow Court, the motel is one of the longest continuously operated rest areas along Route 66. Featuring 12 rooms with garage units in between, the Blue Swallow boasts a beautiful pink stucco exterior with sea shell design and a magnificent neon sign that welcomes visitors to this day.

Featured in Back to the Future Part II and the inspiration for the “Cozy Cone Motel” in the Pixar movie Cars, the Blue Swallow has kept its 1950s charm thanks to the many owners who have cherished this beloved stop.

Check back to see the transformation of the Blue Swallow Motel and learn more about its significance along Route 66.