Indira Lakshmanan

Courtesy of Liz Linder.

Co-Host, Here & Now

Long before interstates stitched the country together, there was “The Mother Road.” Route 66 crossed through eight states from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif.

Route 66 is not the longest or most-travelled American highway. So why is it the most famous?

Will Walkey

Will 3 1x1

Floating Producer

U.S. 66 Route Markerfrom Clinton, Okla. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Gift of Oklahoma Department of Transportation)

Building Route 66 in the mid-1920s stirred public excitement. One symbol ofinfatuation with the new highway is the Phillips 66 gasoline trade name. Introduced in 1927, the name was inspired by a test drive at 66 miles per hour on a stretch of Route 66 in Oklahoma. The Phillips 66 sign, unveiled in 1930, combined the trade name with the shape of a U.S. highway route marker. The sign has continued in use with minor revisions. This example was made in 1956. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Gift of Phillips Petroleum Company)

<img class="size-full wp-image-1094191" src="https://media.wbur.org/wp/2026/05/04.jpg" alt="Building Route 66 in the mid-1920s stirred public excitement. One symbol of" width="600" height="585" /> Building Route 66 in the mid-1920s stirred public excitement. One symbol of<br />

In 2000, Oklahoma truckers moved 50 feet of concrete pavement from U.S. 66 to the collections of the National Museum of American History to mark the significance of U.S. numbered highways, and Route 66 as a prime example. This particular stretch of pavement is believed to be from 1932. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Gift of Oklahoma Department of Transportation)

In 2000, Oklahoma truckers moved 50 feet of concrete pavement from U.S.
66 to the collections of the National Museum of American History to mark
the significance of U.S. numbered highways, and Route 66 as a prime example. This particular stretch of pavement is believed to be from 1932. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History,
Gift of Oklahoma Department of Transportation)

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Here & Now: Editors' Picks

Life

“Dancing on the Wall” is a departure from MUNA’s previous work, trading the sunshine-y pop instrumentals, country influences and sweeping ballads of their self-titled album for gritty, atmospheric tracks influenced by 1990s punk and rave scenes.

'It's kind of a no-brainer': Why pop band MUNA is tackling politics on album 'Dancing on the Wall'

Grace Griffin

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Digital Producer, Here & Now

(L-R) Naomi McPherson, Katie Gavin and Josette Maskin make up the indie pop band MUNA. (Courtesy of Dean Bradshaw)

Music

The Smithsonian Institution has a new exhibit documenting the history of salsa music in the U.S.

The enduring influence of Celia Cruz, the ‘queen of salsa’

Shoes worn by Celia Cruz. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution)

Arts

A new exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian showcases the work of the late minimalist artist Truman Lowe.

At Water’s Edge: How Truman Lowe’s art fits into the story of America

Feather Canoe, 1993. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of
the American Indian)

Feather Canoe, 1993. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian)

The Sleep Foundation estimates that as many as 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, which can increase your risk of heart disease, obesity, dementia and more.

Struggling to sleep? Try cognitive shuffling

Thomas Danielian

Producer, Here & Now

Woman in depression closed face with hands and crying in bed. Melancholy mood, mental health. Life problems

Health

Even if you do not consider yourself disabled, your needs will change if you get injured or simply as you get older.

Accessibility journalist shares tips to prepare for the 'ability drift'

Ashley Locke

Senior Producer, Here & Now

Journalist Sarah Kovac was born with a rare birth defect that left her arms and hands underdeveloped. She does most tasks with her feet, everything from typing and making coffee to driving and changing her kids' diapers. (Courtesy of Sarah Kovac)

Sometimes life throws you a curveball. Bruce Feiler is a bestselling author who coined the term “lifequake” to describe life-altering transitions.

How to master 'lifequakes' and find new meaning

Samantha Raphelson

Samantha Raphelson at WBUR. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Associate Producer, Here & Now

The Center on Conscience and War says it’s seeing a rise in calls from U.S. military members facing deployment who are seeking to be discharged or reassigned as conscientious objectors.

What does it mean when U.S. military members become conscientious objectors to war?

U.S. Army soldiers stand in formation next to a US flag and a U.S. Army armoured vehicle as they take part in the NATO "Noble Blueprint 23" joint military exercise at the Novo Selo military ground, northwestern Bulgaria, on September 26, 2023. (Nikolay Doychinov/AFP via Getty Images)

News

The crew aboard Artemis II is expected to return on Friday evening.

‘Home is bigger than we thought’: Former astronaut on Artemis II shaping future space travel

Hafsa Quraishi

In this image provided by NASA, The Artemis II crew captured from lunar orbit, the Moon eclipses the Sun on Monday, April 6, 2026. (NASA via AP)

Science

Lowriders have long turned city streets into moving works of art. Now, a new exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution is tracing the history of lowriding from its roots in Chicano communities to its influence on art and activism.

Lowriding culture takes center stage at the Smithsonian

The Gypsy Rose car. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History; On loan from the Gypsy Rose Lowrider, LLC)