Tulsa, Oklahoma, hosted the 1927 founding meeting of the U.S. 66 Highway Association.
The association was created soon after Route 66 entered the federal highway network. Its members promoted the road, encouraged improvements, and publicized its commercial importance to towns and businesses along the route.
Tulsa was a significant early Route 66 center because the highway passed through the city and connected it with other Oklahoma communities. The association’s promotional work helped transform a numbered road into a recognizable travel brand.
This event is distinct from the creation of Route 66 itself. The highway was established in 1926, while the association formed the following year to advocate for and market the route.