Shared Lines: Asian American Stories on Route 66

By Sammy Yuen

Route 66 might be the U.S.’s most famous highway. Traversing the country from Santa Monica, CA to Chicago, IL, it’s been immortalized in songs, books, and movies. But along that iconic highway are stories that are far lesser known.

With a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, illustrator Sammy Yuen set out on a roadtrip to capture those stories. This exhibition — coinciding with Route 66’s 100th anniversary this fall — brings some of them to life.

Like the stone guardian lions that appeared out of nowhere in Amboy, CA, a former ghost town purchased by Japanese American restaurateur and preservationist, Albert Okura. The water towers in Kingman, AZ that once supported operations of the railroad built by Chinese laborers. The Chinese American Museum of Chicago, housed in an erstwhile tofu factory donated by Chinese immigrant and grocery magnate Raymond Lee.

“This whole journey started with my first exhibition at Pearl River Mart,” says Sammy. “Showing my new exhibition there brings it back, full circle. I also like the idea of exploring Asian American communities outside of New York City's Chinatowns. Beyond Manhattan and Flushing. Sometimes it's just a strip mall or restaurants spread out in an area. But the stories of the people are often the same.”

• On view June 6 through Sept. 27 in the Pearl River Mart gallery at 452 Broadway
• Free and open to the public every day from 11 AM to 7 PM
• Learn more in our interview with Sammy
• See the online collection
• View the press release

Special thanks to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who provided curation for this exhibition.

This exhibition is dedicated to Sammy’s father, Sammy Yuen, Sr. (1935 to 2026), for his unwavering support of the people he loved.

About the artist

Sammy Yuen is an artist, illustrator, designer, writer, and martial arts instructor. He is the recipient of multiple grants, including awards from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Asian American Arts Alliance. His work has been exhibited at Pearl River Mart, the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, and Google Arts & Culture. He is currently developing a multi-generational picture book inspired by his family’s martial arts legacy.

With over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, he has created book covers — including more than 35 New York Times bestsellers — as well as marketing and advertising materials, animated videos, and social media assets. Across all of his work, his goal is to tell stories that engage audiences and spark conversation.