American Indian tribes to work with Park Service on cultural guidebook for historic Route 66

More than two dozen American Indian tribes are teaming up with a tourism group and the National Park Service to tell a new story for travelers along historic Route 66, the famous byway that stretches from Chicago to California.

The plan is to create a guidebook using federal grant money that will highlight significant tribal sites along the 2,400-mile route. The book will also detail the histories of Native communities that saw their stretch of the West change because of the road.

Representatives from the Park Service and the Chicago American Indian Center will be among those gathering in New Mexico on Wednesday for a meeting to kick off the project.

Tribal leaders from the Cherokee Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, Navajo Nation and Acoma and Laguna pueblos are also expected.