Route 66 (Glendora)
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| Route 66 (Glendora) | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | US |
| Route | 66 |
| Name | Route 66 (Glendora) |
| Established | 1926 |
| Decommissioned | 1985 (US Highway System) |
| Direction a | West |
| Direction b | East |
| Terminus a | Los Angeles |
| Terminus b | Chicago |
| Counties | Los Angeles County, California |
Route 66 (Glendora) is the segment of the historic U.S. Route 66 that passes through Glendora, California, a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California. The alignment in Glendora traces part of the original transcontinental corridor linking Chicago, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Texas, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe to Los Angeles. This urban stretch intersects regional thoroughfares and sits amid landmarks associated with the American Road Trip, Dust Bowl migration, and Historic Route 66 preservation movements.
Route description
The Glendora segment follows portions of the former U.S. Highway 66 alignment along major local streets including parts of Foothill Boulevard and adjacent alignments that connected with San Bernardino routes toward San Bernardino Mountains passes. From the western approach near La Verne and San Dimas, the route progresses eastward toward Covina and Azusa, running parallel to the San Gabriel River and the San Gabriel Mountains foothills. It intersects historic east–west corridors like Holt Avenue and connects to north–south arteries such as Route 66's intersections with Grand Avenue (Glendora), proximate to Glen A. Wilson High School and municipal centers near Glendora Village. The alignment lies near Southern Pacific Railroad rights-of-way and modern Interstate 210 corridors that reshaped regional traffic patterns in the mid-20th century.
History
Route 66 in Glendora emerged during the 1920s as part of the federal numbering plan promulgated by the American Association of State Highway Officials and linked to national initiatives that included the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921. Early automotive tourism fostered establishments like motor courts and service stations similar to those in San Bernardino County communities. During the Great Depression and Dust Bowl migrations, Route 66 carried families bound for California and employment opportunities in Los Angeles industries such as Hollywood and Pacific Electric Railway labor markets. World War II logistics and postwar suburbanization—featuring developments by entities like Levitt & Sons patterns and the rise of Interstate Highway System projects under Dwight D. Eisenhower—altered Route 66’s role, culminating in its formal decommissioning in 1985 and local efforts to retain historic signage through organizations like the Route 66 Association of California.
Historic landmarks and attractions
Glendora’s Route 66 vicinity hosts several historic properties and attractions referenced by national and local registries, including classic 20th-century service stations, neon signage, and mid-century diners evocative of the American Diner tradition and the Mother Road iconography popularized in works like John Steinbeck’s writings and Bobby Troup’s songwriting. Nearby cultural sites include the San Dimas Theatre, Folk Music Center, and community institutions such as Glendora Historical Society repositories and the Glendora Public Library. The corridor draws interest from preservationists associated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and tourism promoters participating in events like National Old Trails Road commemorations and Route 66 Festivals. Architectural examples reflect trends visible in Mid-century modern architecture and roadside vernacular found along alignments that continue to attract photographers, historians from California Historical Society, and travelers tracing the Mother Road.
Transportation and traffic
Historically, Route 66 functioned as a primary intercity route until the advent of Interstate 10 and Interstate 210, which diverted long-distance traffic. Today, the Glendora segment handles local commuter flows feeding into employment centers in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and San Bernardino counties, with multimodal connections to Metrolink (California), Foothill Transit, and county-level transit planning by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Traffic studies by agencies such as the California Department of Transportation evaluate congestion, safety, and pavement conditions along urban segments, while adjacent freight movements utilize Union Pacific Railroad corridors and nearby Ontario International Airport logistics. Seasonal tourism surges tied to Route 66 heritage events create episodic traffic peaks managed by the Glendora Police Department and Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
Preservation and cultural significance
Preservation efforts in Glendora link to national movements championed by groups including the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and nonprofit advocates such as the Route 66 Alliance. Local activism by the Glendora Historical Society and municipal commissions has sought to conserve period storefronts, neon signs, and alignments eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Cultural significance is reinforced through references in literature and media—ranging from John Steinbeck’s depiction of migrant journeys to Rand McNally cartography and Bobby Troup’s song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66"—and by educational programs involving regional institutions such as Azusa Pacific University and Cal Poly Pomona.
Local economy and tourism impacts
Route 66 heritage tourism supports local businesses in Glendora’s downtown and hospitality sector, including independent restaurants, antique shops, and lodging establishments that leverage the Mother Road brand. Economic development initiatives coordinate with entities like the Glendora Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and visitor bureaus that market themed tours connecting to Old Route 66 attractions across California and neighboring states. Festivals, car shows, and guided walking tours generate revenue streams for retail and service providers, while collaborations with regional tourism programs associated with Visit California and California Travel and Tourism Commission aim to broaden reach. Preservation incentives and adaptive reuse projects sometimes draw support through tax credit programs modeled after federal historic rehabilitation tax incentives.
Future developments and planning
Planning for the corridor integrates municipal strategies from the City of Glendora general plan, regional transportation plans by the Southern California Association of Governments, and funding mechanisms through the California Transportation Commission. Future improvements emphasize complete streets concepts aligned with initiatives promoted by organizations such as the National Complete Streets Coalition and sustainable mobility approaches from the California Air Resources Board. Proposals include streetscape enhancements, interpretive signage consistent with Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program guidelines, multimodal access improvements linked to Metrolink stations, and compatibility with regional resilience planning driven by responses to California Wildfires and seismic risk associated with the San Andreas Fault system. Collaborative planning continues with nonprofit heritage groups, county agencies, and state preservation programs to balance transportation needs with cultural tourism and historic conservation priorities.
Category:Historic trails and roads in California Category:Transportation in Los Angeles County, California