AP immerses audiences in an honest look at Route 66 and its history

To mark the centennial of Route 66, AP delivered an immersive, multi-platform project that combined storytelling, visuals and innovative digital presentation to bring the iconic highway to life.

From the outset, the team rethought traditional workflows — producing video snippets early, securing photography ahead of publication and building a custom digital experience. The project also introduced the first Localize It photography guide, expanding audience engagement.

Journalists focused on visually rich and underreported locations along the route, highlighting not just nostalgia but deeper, more complex stories. The coverage explored how Native American communities and Black travelers experienced Route 66, adding historical context about discrimination and cultural impact alongside lighter, discovery-driven stories.

Drawing on AP’s presence across eight states, the team uncovered a wide range of characters and places — from the only Black-owned gas station on the route to a Laguna Pueblo poet, a historic drive-in theater, a famed steakhouse challenge, a third-generation diner and a ghost town populated by burros.

Photographers and video journalists traveled hundreds of miles to capture the story, while digital and social teams ensured strong reach through a cohesive and engaging presentation that allowed audiences to explore the route state by state or as a full journey.

Judges praised the collaboration across formats and departments, highlighting the project as a compelling example of storytelling that blends joy, history and discovery.

For a creative and collaborative look at 100 years of Route 66, the team wins this week’s Best of AP — Second Winner.