History of Route 66
Route 66, also known as the “Main Street of America” or “The Mother Road,” is one of the most famous…
Route 66, also known as the “Main Street of America” or “The Mother Road,” is one of the most famous highways in the United States. Established in 1926, it originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 kilometers). Route 66 became a symbol of American freedom, migration, and the open road, particularly during the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war era. Its significance extends beyond transportation, as it represents an iconic part of American culture, immortalized in literature, music, and film.
Origins of Route 66
Before Route 66 was created, there was no standardized system of highways in the United States. Roads were often unpaved and inconsistent, and the rise of the automobile in the early 20th century spurred the need for better infrastructure. The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921 laid the groundwork for the creation of a national highway system, and by the mid-1920s, the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads began numbering highways.
Route 66 was officially established on November 11, 1926, when the U.S. Highway System was created. It was conceived as part of a national effort to connect rural and urban communities, facilitating travel and trade across states. Route 66 was unique in that it connected small towns and rural communities to major cities, unlike other highways that focused primarily on urban connections. Its route passed through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Cyrus Avery, often called the “Father of Route 66,” was instrumental in its creation. He promoted the idea of a highway that would link the Midwest to the West Coast, running diagonally across the country to connect many existing local roads. Avery wanted the highway to be accessible to farmers, migrants, and everyday travelers, making it a practical and important route for people moving westward.
The Route and Its Importance
The original alignment of Route 66 started in Chicago, running southwest through the plains of Illinois and Missouri, down through Oklahoma and Texas, and across the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona before ending at the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California. Along the way, the highway passed through major cities like St. Louis, Springfield, Tulsa, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles.
The Great Depression and Dust Bowl Migration
Route 66 gained national significance during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The highway became a major route for thousands of migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl, a series of devastating dust storms that ravaged the agricultural heartland of the United States, particularly in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. Farmers and families, often referred to as “Okies,” traveled west along Route 66 in search of work and better opportunities in California.
This westward migration was famously chronicled in John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939), in which Route 66 is called the “Mother Road”. Steinbeck’s portrayal of the hardships faced by migrant families helped cement the highway’s place in American culture as a symbol of hope and escape.
World War II
During World War II, Route 66 played a crucial role in the movement of troops and military supplies. It connected important military bases and training facilities across the Southwest, and the highway became a lifeline for the war effort. The western portions of the route, particularly through Arizona and California, were vital for transporting materials to the Pacific Theater.
Additionally, Route 66 provided access to the rapidly expanding defense industries in California, which drew workers from across the country to the West Coast. Many small towns along the highway prospered as they served the needs of travelers, troops, and defense workers, with motels, gas stations, diners, and repair shops springing up to accommodate the increased traffic.
Post-War Era and Route 66 in Popular Culture
Following World War II, Route 66 became synonymous with American car culture. With the post-war economic boom, Americans were eager to explore the country in their new automobiles, and Route 66 became a favorite path for cross-country road trips. The highway was seen as a route to adventure and the open road, representing freedom, mobility, and the quintessential American road trip.
Tourism flourished along Route 66, with roadside attractions, diners, motels, and souvenir shops popping up to cater to travelers. Iconic businesses, such as Cadillac Ranch in Texas and Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In in Arizona, became famous stops along the route.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Route 66 became a major cultural icon, immortalized in popular songs, movies, and television shows. The song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” written by Bobby Troup in 1946 and performed by artists like Nat King Cole and Chuck Berry, celebrated the highway’s appeal. The TV series Route 66 (1960–1964) also helped cement the road’s image as a place of adventure and discovery.
The Decline of Route 66
Despite its cultural significance, Route 66 began to decline in the 1950s with the creation of the Interstate Highway System. Signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, the Federal-Aid Highway Act authorized the construction of a new network of highways designed for faster, more efficient travel. These modern interstates often bypassed small towns and businesses that had relied on the traffic from Route 66.
As new interstates like I-40, I-44, and I-55 replaced long stretches of Route 66, traffic dwindled, and many of the businesses that thrived along the route began to close. By the 1970s, much of Route 66 had been replaced by the interstate system, and on June 27, 1985, Route 66 was officially decommissioned as a U.S. highway.
Preservation and Revival
Though decommissioned, Route 66 never disappeared from the American consciousness. In the years following its decline, efforts to preserve and celebrate the history of the highway began to take shape. In the 1980s and 1990s, local organizations and enthusiasts lobbied to preserve historic sections of the road and its landmarks.
In 1987, the U.S. Congress established the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, aimed at protecting and restoring historic sites and structures along the route. States such as Illinois, Missouri, and Oklahoma designated their portions of the highway as historic routes, attracting tourists interested in the nostalgia of the open road.
The highway’s legacy is preserved in the Route 66 associations that exist in each state along the original route. These groups work to protect and promote the history and cultural significance of the road. In 1999, the U.S. government passed the National Route 66 Preservation Act, which provided funding for the preservation of key landmarks along the route.
Route 66 Today
Today, Route 66 is a popular destination for road trip enthusiasts, history buffs, and international tourists looking to experience a piece of American history. While much of the original road has been replaced or rerouted by modern highways, many historic sections still exist and can be traveled. These sections, often marked as Historic Route 66, wind through charming small towns, offering a glimpse of mid-20th-century American life.
Iconic landmarks such as the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, and the Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis, Missouri, continue to attract visitors from around the world. Museums and cultural centers dedicated to Route 66 can be found in several states along the route, preserving the legacy of this iconic road
- Home
- /
- Regions
- /
- North America
- /
- United States of America
- /
- Places
- /
- History of Route 66
Advertisement:
- Jerry McClanahan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 218 Pages - 03/13/2023 (Publication Date) - National Historic Route 66 Federation (Publisher)
- ✔ PREMIUM VINTAGE SIGN - We use the only first-class tin to manufacture our metal signs. It will stay good as new even after many years of indoor or outdoor...
- ✔ PERFECT SIZE - 1PC route 66 road decor sign 12"*12", innovative folded edges for hand safety.
- ✔ EASY TO INSTALL - This vintage and elegant room metal decor sign come with 3 pre-drilled holes and can be mounted with double sided foam tape, nails or...
- Watson, Mark (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 340 Pages - 07/22/2021 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
- Knowles, Drew (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 404 Pages - 08/22/2023 (Publication Date) - Santa Monica Press (Publisher)
- Jim Ross and Jerry McClanahan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 16 Pages - 12/30/2021 (Publication Date) - Ghost Town Press (Publisher)
- Wallis, Michael (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 06/23/2001 (Publication Date) - St. Martin's Griffin (Publisher)
We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Home
- /
- Regions
- /
- North America
- /
- United States of America
- /
- Places
- /
- History of Route 66
Comments