Which U.S. president signed the National Route 66 Preservation Act in 1999?

President Bill Clinton signed the National Route 66 Preservation Act in 1999.

The law provided federal support for preserving and restoring historic buildings, structures, and other features associated with the former highway. By then, Route 66 had been officially decommissioned for more than a decade, but its cultural importance was increasingly recognized by preservation groups and heritage travelers.

The act helped establish a federal preservation framework rather than restoring the entire road as a functioning national highway. Many surviving sites were privately owned or locally managed, including gas stations, motels, restaurants, bridges, and roadside signs.

A common mix-up is confusing this legislation with the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, which was administered later by the National Park Service. The act is significant because it gave national recognition to preservation efforts before the highway’s centennial era. Clinton’s connection with Route 66 is also sometimes confused with the highway’s Oklahoma museums and the city of Clinton, Oklahoma, which was named for another historical association.