SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – The Queen’s Gate 66 sculpture was dedicated Friday as part of the National Route 66 Centennial Celebration Kickoff.
The sculpture stands on St. Louis Street just west of Glenstone Avenue. Designed by Amie Jacobsen and Jake Balcom, the sculpture stands nearly 20 feet high and 32 feet wide in the center of St. Louis Street. It will be illuminated at night.
“Gateways matter. They mark transitions, between places, between eras, between what was and what comes next,” said Mark Hecquet, Visit Springfield president and CEO, who also serves on the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission. “Queen’s Gate stands as a symbolic entry point to Route 66’s story here in Springfield – a reminder that this city has always welcomed travelers, ideas, and change.”
Funding and partnerships
The sculpture and its installation were funded by a $1 million state appropriation made possible by Sen. Lincoln Hough. Visit Springfield managed the project.
Gordon Elliott, owner, and Dale Replogle, CEO, of Elliott Lodging Inc., which owns the Rail Haven, allocated a portion of the Rail Haven’s parking lot for Queen’s Gate 66 visitors. City Utilities and the city’s Public Works Department relocated utilities, prepared the site, and assisted with the installation.
Musical Road plays ‘America the Beautiful’
Visit Springfield introduced a new Musical Road experience on St. Louis Street near Queen’s Gate 66. As drivers travel across a specially engineered section of roadway at the recommended speed of 30 mph, precisely spaced rumble strips create the melody of “America the Beautiful.”
The song was selected as a tribute to America’s open road, the spirit of Route 66, and the upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
“This project started with a simple goal: we wanted to create a unique new experience for visitors traveling Route 66 in Springfield,” Hecquet said. “The Musical Road does exactly that. It gives people something unexpected, memorable, and fun, while adding another reason to stop, explore, and experience Springfield in a new way.”
The project was developed in partnership with Route 66 Musical Roads LLC. Springfield’s Musical Road joins a limited number of similar road attractions across the U.S.
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