What memorial highway name was given to U.S. Route 66 in honor of entertainer Will Rogers?

U.S. Route 66 was also known as the Will Rogers Memorial Highway in honor of entertainer Will Rogers.

Will Rogers was a celebrated American humorist, actor, author, and commentator who died in a 1935 airplane crash. The memorial name connected his public image with the highway’s growing cultural importance during the mid-20th century.

The name is sometimes shortened in descriptions to “Will Rogers Highway,” which can cause confusion with the fuller memorial title. Route 66 also had other well-known nicknames, including “The Main Street of America” and “The Mother Road.”

The Will Rogers name reflected both highway promotion and remembrance. Route 66 associations used memorable titles to distinguish the road from ordinary numbered highways and encourage travelers to explore businesses, attractions, and communities along its route.