About This Stamp
For a century, drivers have hit the open road chasing the American Dream along Route 66, the legendary highway that originally stretched about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Dubbed “The Mother Road” by author John Steinbeck, Route 66 forever changed how Americans travel and became a symbol of freedom and adventure. New stamps from the U.S. Postal Service celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic road, honoring its enduring spirit and the ongoing efforts to preserve this uniquely American treasure.
Art director Greg Breeding says the scope of the project was “daunting” at first, once but once our researchers located David Schwartz, a Route 66 photographer with over 20 years of photographing the road, the process became much smoother. Schwartz became the resource for acquiring images for the stamps, while teaching Breeding some Route 66 history and lore.
“Not only is David a seasoned expert of Route 66, but he also happens to be a very fine photographer,” Breeding says. “I personally liked what some call the 'editorial' feel of his work. That is, it does not appear commercial or slick but has almost a photojournalistic quality.”
Schwartz became interested in the road in 1988 after hearing Depeche Mode’s cover of the song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.” He says he used to listen to it and dream of the adventures it held. He made his first trip in 2004 and has since driven it 40 more times.
“Only once did I make the full trip from Chicago to Los Angeles in one go,” Schwartz says. “As a photographer, I found it’s far more meaningful, rewarding, and enjoyable to focus on smaller sections — allowing for deeper dives into the towns, people, and landscapes along the way.”
When Schwartz is taking photographs on the road, he says he looks for moments that feel real and tell a story or capture a mood.
“I pay close attention to light, especially at sunrise or sunset, because it can completely transform a scene,” he says. “I’m drawn to how places change over time — what’s still standing, what’s faded, and what’s been brought back to life.”
As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary, Schwartz notes it’s so much more than simply a road.
“Route 66 is a thread that weaves together American history, culture, and identity,” Schwartz says. “It tells the story of how people moved, adapted, and built communities. Driving it today connects you to that story in a real, tangible way.”
Having his work featured on stamps is a dream come true for Schwartz, and he hopes they will inspire others to seek their own adventures on the road.
“The thought that someone might see one of these images and feel that same spark I felt years ago — that’s everything to me.”
Stamp Art Director, Stamp Designer
Greg Breeding
Greg Breeding is a graphic designer and principal of Journey Group, a design company he co-founded in 1992, located in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was creative director until 2013, at which time he began serving as president and continued in that role through 2023.
Breeding’s fascination with modernism began while studying design at Virginia Commonwealth University. His affinity with the movement continues and motivates his ongoing advanced studies at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland most every summer.
As an art director for postage stamp design since 2012, Breeding has designed more than 100 stamps covering a diverse array of subjects, from Star Wars droids and Batman to Harlem Renaissance writers and the transcontinental railroad.
His work has been recognized in annual design competitions held by Graphis, AIGA, PRINT magazine, and Communication Arts.
Breeding lives in North Garden, Virginia, with his wife and enjoys nothing so much as frolicking on the floor with his grandchildren.
Existing Photos by
David Schwartz
Long fascinated by the history, culture, and stories of Route 66, photographer David J. Schwartz has made nearly 40 trips along the “Mother Road” since 2004, and continues to draw inspiration from it.
The Cleveland, Ohio, native revels in Americana and often works with small businesses, helping tell their stories and promote them. He has been a part of the bi-monthly ROUTE Magazine since its inception and currently serves as its director of photography and lead editorial photographer.
Schwartz has shown his Route 66 art in his own gallery and local museums. His work has appeared in the Missouri Route 66 Travel Guide and the Missouri Scenic Rides and Drives Guide, and on the Illinois Scenic Byway website. His clients also include Case Western Reserve University, Great Lakes Publishing, and U.S. Bank.
Schwartz lives with his family in Cleveland.
The 2026 Route 66 stamps are his first project for the U.S. Postal Service.
