Forever Stamps 2026 Route 66 – Centennial Commemorative, First-Class Postage

For a century, drivers have hit the open road chasing the American Dream along Route 66, the legendary highway that originally stretched about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Established on November 11, 1926, Route 66 forever changed how Americans travel and became a symbol of freedom and adventure. New stamps from the U.S. Postal Service celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic road, honoring its enduring spirit and the ongoing efforts to preserve this uniquely American treasure.

Art director Greg Breeding says the scope of the project was “daunting” at first, once but once our researchers located David Schwartz, a Route 66 photographer with over 20 years of photographing the road, the process became much smoother. Schwartz became the resource for acquiring images for the stamps, while teaching Breeding some Route 66 history and lore.

“Not only is David a seasoned expert of Route 66, but he also happens to be a very fine photographer,” Breeding says. “I personally liked what some call the 'editorial' feel of his work. That is, it does not appear commercial or slick but has almost a photojournalistic quality.”