Will Rogers, Jr. and Bonnie Bravo Royal

Will Rogers, Jr., the son of famed humorist and Cherokee entertainer Will Rogers, symbolized the enduring connection between Route 66 and American identity. His father was closely associated with the highway—often called the "Will Rogers Highway"—because of his role as a national storyteller and bridge between cultures.

Bonnie Bravo Royal, representing the Hualapai Nation as Miss Hualapai, stands in the photo as a proud embodiment of Native sovereignty, culture, and continuity. Her presence emphasizes that Route 66 did not simply pass through empty desert, but through the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples like the Hualapai.

Together, the photo captures a moment where Native heritage and national memory intersect. It reminds us that Route 66 is not just a symbol of westward expansion and car culture—but also a road that crosses living Native nations, whose histories, cultures, and people continue to shape its legacy.