“Life doesn’t happen along the interstates. It’s against the law.”

– William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways

No doubt a daunting task for the pair, the federal government finally pledged to link small towns in the U.S.A. with metropolitan capitals in the summer of 1926, and the American Association of State Highways designated the road as U.S. Highway 66 on November 11. Unfortunately, a few years later, the depression came, halting progress on the new “Super-Highway.”

Perhaps more than any other American highway, the Mother Road symbolized a new positive outlook that spread through the nation’s postwar economic recovery. **Route 66** was more than just a highway for thousands of returning servicemen and their families. “It became,” one admirer said, “an icon of free-spirited independence linking the United States across the Rocky Mountain divide to the Pacific Ocean.”

The tourist industry grew almost immediately, giving rise to countless tourist courts, motels, service stations, garages, and diners. However, the excessive truck travel during World War II and the ever-expanding automobile industry had left the Highway in appalling conditions, with narrow pavements and poor road conditions.

In the mid-1950s, the public lobby and President Dwight D. Eisenhower demanded a federal sponsorship for a system of divided highways. On June 26, 1956, the Federal-Aid Highway Act was passed by Congress for a national interstate highway program. The act, also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act, allocated over $30 Billion to construct over 40,000 miles of interstate highways, the largest public construction project in U.S. history at the time. On June 29, Eisenhower signed it into law. While it is remembered by many as Eisenhower’s most significant domestic achievement, the flip side was the demise of small towns along highways that connected more isolated parts of the country. With the Highway Act, **Route 66** was doomed.

Doomed or not, by the 1960s, many points of interest were familiar landmarks to a new generation of travelers. The television series “Route 66” was aired, “driving” the Mother Road into homes all over America. Though the series created great interest in the American public, it was to be short-lived, as, by 1970, nearly all segments of original Route 66 were bypassed by modern four-lane highways. On October 13, 1984, all of the poorly maintained vestiges of Route 66 ultimately succumbed when the final section of the original road was bypassed by Interstate 40 at Williams, Arizona.

As Route 66 was decommissioned on June 27, 1985, its signs were removed, and the Mother Road was almost lost. Even today, the Mother Road appears on very few current maps. Most states have installed Historic Route 66 signs along portions of the road, but, unfortunately, they rarely give exit directions where the road often veers off from the interstate highways.

The route today is not what it was in the past. The sights and sounds of the Mother Road change daily with the emergence of new businesses and development along the old highway. You will want to take many pictures because what is here today might be gone tomorrow.

However, much is preserved, and the Route 66 Historical Associations and private groups have done much to preserve these vintage treasures. As you travel along, you will often see a sign or marquee of the vintage road, as these icons of history are preserved, though their buildings are long gone. In June 2018, the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Route 66 on its 11 most at-risk sites, which highlight architectural and cultural spots it deems in danger from development or neglect.

Traveling the road, you will experience everything from the frustration of finding the route in a metro city to being pleasantly surprised by the next small town you venture into. The landscape quickly changes from the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan area to quiet meandering roads to tallgrass prairies, where you feel you might be the only person left on earth.

While planning your trip, it’s a good idea because the road can be confusing; the whole idea is to experience Mother Road. We advise getting a couple of good Route 66 books and some good maps before you begin your adventure. Here and there, some places will give you a road sign when the road veers off the interstate, but mostly not. Even with a few good maps, you will undoubtedly take a wrong turn occasionally. Take the Business Loops off the interstates when possible – they will often lead you to your photo opportunities of our scenic past.

Such is the experience!! Enjoy the ride!

© Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated July 2024.

Route 66, often romanticized as the “Mother Road,” holds a unique place in American history and culture. More than just a highway, it embodies a spirit of freedom, opportunity, and adventure that continues to resonate with people today. This iconic road, stretching over 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, served as a vital artery for commerce, migration, and tourism for much of the 20th century. Its story is intertwined with the development of the American West, the struggles of the Great Depression, and the rise of the automobile age.

The genesis of **Route 66** can be traced back to the 1920s, a period of rapid change and growth in the United States. As automobile ownership became more widespread, the need for improved roads and highways became increasingly apparent. Cyrus Avery, a businessman from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and John Woodruff, a highway official from Springfield, Missouri, recognized the potential of a transcontinental highway that would connect the Midwest to the West Coast. Their vision was to create a route that would not only facilitate travel but also stimulate economic development in the rural communities along its path.

In 1926, their efforts paid off when the federal government officially designated the route as U.S. Highway 66. This marked the beginning of a transformative era for the towns and cities that lay along its course. **Route 66** became a lifeline for farmers and merchants, providing access to markets and enabling the transportation of goods. It also served as a major migration route, particularly during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s, when thousands of families from the Midwest sought refuge and opportunity in California. John Steinbeck immortalized this migration in his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, *The Grapes of Wrath*, further solidifying **Route 66**’s place in the national consciousness.

During World War II, **Route 66** played a crucial role in the war effort, facilitating the movement of troops, equipment, and supplies to military bases and defense industries in California. The highway became a symbol of American resilience and determination, connecting the nation in a time of crisis. After the war, **Route 66** experienced a surge in popularity as tourism flourished. Motels, diners, gas stations, and roadside attractions sprang up along the route, catering to the growing number of travelers eager to explore the American West. These establishments became integral parts of the **Route 66** experience, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of American culture.

However, the rise of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s and 1960s ultimately led to the decline of **Route 66**. As newer, faster highways bypassed the original route, businesses suffered, and many towns along **Route 66** fell into decline. In 1985, the highway was officially decommissioned, marking the end of an era. Despite its demise as an official highway, **Route 66** refused to fade into obscurity. A wave of nostalgia and preservation efforts emerged, driven by individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the Mother Road.

Today, **Route 66** is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world who seek to experience a piece of Americana. Although much of the original road has been replaced or altered, significant portions remain intact, offering a glimpse into the past. Historic landmarks, quirky roadside attractions, and vintage motels and diners line the route, providing a tangible connection to the Mother Road’s rich history. Driving **Route 66** is more than just a road trip; it’s a journey through time, a celebration of American ingenuity, and a reminder of the enduring spirit of the open road. It’s an opportunity to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect with a simpler, more authentic way of life.

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