Route 66: Quick Facts

Route 66 is renowned as one of the original highways in the United States, established in 1926. It stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles, becoming a vital artery for commerce and long-distance travel. By the mid-1930s, it earned the nickname "Main Street of America," significantly influencing roadside businesses and local economies. Route 66 also played a role in the migration of people during the Dust Bowl and has since become a lasting cultural icon, celebrated in songs and television.

Route 66, an iconic American highway, originally began in Chicago, Illinois, and ended in Santa Monica, California. The eastern terminus was initially at Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, later moved to U.S. Route 41. The western terminus in Los Angeles was first at Broadway and 7th Street, eventually relocated to Lincoln Boulevard at Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica. The total length of the original route was approximately 2,448 miles (3,940 km).

Route 66 earned the nickname "Mother Road" due to its significance during the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s. As dispossessed families moved to California, this highway became their primary route, a journey immortalized in John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath.

Initially one of the United States' first national highways, Route 66 was also called the "Main Street of America" because it fostered commerce and transformed the economies of the towns along its path. Its cultural impact was further cemented by a popular song and a television series.

Route 66, known as the "Main Street of America," significantly aided travelers and businesses by serving as one of the first major highways in the United States. It facilitated long-distance travel and commerce, becoming a vital artery for migration, particularly during the Dust Bowl. The highway spurred the growth of roadside businesses, including diners, gas stations, and motor inns, transforming the economies of the towns it passed through. Novel merchandising strategies, such as drive-in businesses and fast food, emerged along its length, catering to the transient customer. Its cultural impact was further cemented by popular songs and television shows, making it an enduring icon.

Route 66 was decommissioned on June 27, 1985, after being replaced by the Interstate Highway System. While no longer an official highway, many sections of the original Route 66 remain and have been preserved. These surviving segments, along with dedicated museums and restored businesses, continue to honor the route's historical significance and its iconic status in American popular culture.

Route 66 is remembered and celebrated today through preserved segments of the original roadway, museums, and restored businesses that reflect its historical significance. Although no longer an official highway, having been decommissioned in 1985, its legacy as the "Main Street of America" endures. The route's cultural impact, amplified by songs and television, continues to draw interest, with many individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving its memory and the unique roadside attractions that once lined its path.