Route 66 is the road of the American dream, the Mother Road, or rather “the mother of all roads”, as defined in 1940 by John Steinbeck in his novel ‘The Grapes of Wrath’.
Taking it from start to finish is definitely a unique experience in its genre: a journey through time, through breathtaking landscapes and endless roads.

Ghost towns, old gas stations turned into museums, dusty trading posts, drive-ins that are still open and quaint diners are some of the past testimonials that will accompany you along the trip. A journey to discover the real America, a journey that can last anywhere between two weeks and two months depending on the time you have available; a trip to immerse yourself in nature and lose oneself.

A BIT OF HISTORY: WHAT IS ROUTE 66?

The United State Route 66 or Route 66 is an American highway. It was one of the first federal highways and was inaugurated on November 11, 1926.
It originally connected Chicago to Santa Monica beach through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California: 8 states, a total of 3,755 kilometers (2,448 miles) open 365 days a year.

For decades, Route 66 was used for westward migration, especially during the Dust Bowl period between 1931 and 1939, the years in which a series of sandstorms hit the Central United States and Canada.
Like all highways, Route 66 too was made of a dirt road. Thanks to the Route 66 Association’s efforts, in 1938 it became the first fully paved freeway.
During World War II, Route 66 became one of the busiest roads and was used to move military material from one part of the country to the other.
For years, Route 66 was the focus of all the cities it crossed; a trucker’s traveling companion and hope for all those in search of adventure or a better life.

The beginning of the end of Route 66 was in 1956, when U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act.
The increase in traffic and the need for more and more direct links between cities and towns led to a gradual change in Route 66 over the years. Some parts of the route were enlarged up to 4 lanes, while others were completely replaced by new highways.
US Route 66 was officially removed from the highway system in 1985, when it was replaced by the Interstate Highway System. Today the road still exists and is called Historic Route 66.

ROUTE 66 NICKNAMES

Over the years, the U.S. Highway 66 was given several nicknames:

1. The Great Diagonal Way– immediately after it was decided to build it, Route 66 took on this name because of its diagonal pattern, unlike other Highways.
2. The Main Street of America – It was given this name by the U.S. Highway 66 Association in order to promote it. The nickname was also claimed by the U.S. Highway 40 supporters, but the Route 66 group was more successful.
3. The Mother Road – named by John Steinbeck in his book The Grapes of Wrath. This name is still used today.
4. The Will Rogers Highway – Officially called this name by the U.S. Highway 66 Association in 1952. The plate that dedicates the road to the humorist can still be found at the western end of the road, in Santa Monica (California).

ROUTE 66 TODAY

When Route 66 was abandoned, various parts of the road were treated in very different ways. For many cities it became a commercial link with the Interstate roads. Some parts of it became state, local, private or even completely abandoned. Through careful planning (and the right maps), you can still travel on over eighty percent of the original road and the various modifications.

Want to learn more about Route 66? Come and check out my blog next week;-)

HAVE YOU EVER TRAVELED ON ROUTE 66? IF YOU HAVE, WHAT STRUCK YOU THE MOST OF THE MOTHER ROAD?
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