by Denise Calaman

Created on: December 14, 2010

Historic Route 66 paves its way through eight states; Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.  In its infancy Route 66 served as a gateway for many Americans, especially those who lived in rural America. Farmers in America’s heartland often found it difficult to travel and do business across America because of the lack of paved roadways.

In the early 1900’s two men by the name of Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma and John Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri, realized how fast automobile technology was evolving and promoted the idea of a cross country highway linking east to west.  They knew that the invention of the automobile could change the way business was done in America but before automobiles could take to the open road cross country the United States needed a reliable highway system that connected small town rural America to its larger cities.  It was in 1925 that Route 66 plans were underway.  The original Route 66 highway ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California and it was on November 11, 1926 Route 66 officially was named as such and was opened for travel.

During the 1930’s Route 66 was of the utmost importance to the over 210,000 Americans who emigrated from Midwestern prairie towns during the Dust Bowl years; most headed west to California and Route 66 was their preferred route. John Steinbeck made Route 66 part of his most famous novel, “The Grapes of Wrath” and it was after the book was published in 1939 that Route 66 gained another nickname, “The Mother Road”. 

Truckers also benefited from America’s newest highway.  The ease of travelling on a paved road lessened travel time and it gave many truckers in the northern tier of the country a more “southernly” route during harsh winters. 

Route 66 also played an important part in another time in American history; the war years.  For the first time the United States army had the freedom of mobility on American soil.  Route 66 allowed for rapid mobilization from east to west and the army was able to enjoy the isolation and the dry weather conditions of the American southwest and immediately set up military training camps along the route.

Businesses along Route 66 soon prospered in a way that was never imagined before the highway was laid out.  Route 66 was soon littered with motels, gas stations, restaurants and tourist attractions used to lure people to the mom and pop style businesses that were scattered up and down the miles of Route 66.

Sadly, the thrill of travelling Route 66 didn’t last long.  Soon the United States became a virtual asphalt map of roadways.  And as time went on the roads were built better and better.  Route 66 wasn’t the only option American’s had for travelling.  Eventually, the highway that once helped America to prosper was decommissioned in 1985. 

Today Route 66 fails to appear on most maps.  But in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in travelling Route 66.  Over 85% of the old highway is still drivable and there are tourists who take vacations just to travel the old Route 66.  Could it be that the sudden resurgence in popularity may cause the original Route 66 to become a historical landmark in the near future?

Learn more about this author, Denise Calaman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.