Student leaders share ideas for the Centennial of Route 66 at historic places in a national program coming to Northern Arizona

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preserve Route 66 initiative and HOPE Crew are working together with the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona and the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office to offer the 2026 Arizona Preserve America Youth Summit: Route 66 Centennial & Next Generation Stewards, a four-day program, June 1-4, 2026 featuring significant historic places associated with Route 66 including historic places in: Flagstaff, Williams, Kingman and the Grand Canyon National Park.

“The Summit will bring students from across Arizona together to explore Route 66 firsthand and contribute ideas for its future,” said Nikki Terlesky Director of Operations, Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.

“As the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to saving historic places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation advocates to preserve Route 66 as a vibrant and diverse corridor that reflects the full American experience. This youth summit empowers the next generation to share their voices, ideas, and creativity in carrying the corridor’s legacy into the future,” reflects Milan Jordan, NTHP Senior Director of Preservation Programs.

The program will explore preservation and conservation challenges, as well as opportunities to interpret historic properties and to help develop ideas for the Route 66 Centennial. It will focus on why these places matter to future leaders. Participants will include fifty-five middle and high school students and teachers, selected through a competitive application process. Accepted participants may attend at no cost. The program will conclude with a Town Hall, a moderated question-and-answer session in which students respond to topics they explored throughout the Youth Summit.

All events are open to the press, including:

Monday, June 1: 2026: 11:00am-2:00pm: Cline Library, NAU, 1001 Knoles Avenue, Flagstaff.

Tuesday, June 2: 2026: 3:30-5:30pm: Pioneer Museum, 2340 North Fort Valley Road Flagstaff.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026: 10:00am-1:30pm: Kingman Visitor Center, 120 W. Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman and 3:30-5:00pm: Williams Cemetery, 1733 W 66, Williams.

Thursday, June 4, 2026: 9:30-11:30am: Town Hall, Gardner Auditorium, W. Franke

College of Business, 101 E. McConnell Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona