U.S. Route 66

U.S. Route 66
Fredddie, originally SPUI · Public domain · source
Country	US
Type	US
Route	66
Length mi	2448
Established	1926
Decommissioned	1985
Direction a	West
Terminus a	Santa Monica, California
Direction b	East
Terminus b	Chicago, Illinois

U.S. Route 66 was a historic highway that stretched across the United States from the Midwestern city of Chicago to the Pacific coastal community of Santa Monica. Conceived during the era of the Automobile Club of Southern California, its routing connected urban centers such as St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff while traversing landscapes associated with Great Plains, Ozarks, Sonoran Desert, and Mojave Desert. The highway became emblematic of 20th-century American mobility and migration, intersecting with transportation initiatives like the U.S. Highway System and later the Interstate Highway System.

Route description

The roadway began at the U.S. Route 101 junction in Santa Monica Pier and crossed Los Angeles suburbs including Santa Monica Mountains approaches toward San Bernardino, linking with Interstate 10 and passing through Riverside and San Bernardino County. From Kingman it ascended toward Oatman and Hackberry before reaching the Grand Canyon region near Williams and Flagstaff, where it paralleled the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Entering New Mexico, the route threaded through Gallup, Albuquerque and Santa Rosa, interacting with Pecos River crossings and Pueblo of Laguna environs. In Texas the highway crossed the Panhandle near Amarillo and Shamrock, intersecting with U.S. Route 287. Through Oklahoma it followed corridors through Tulsa, Clinton and Oklahoma City, hugging portions of the Arkansas River basin and the Black Mesa approaches. In Missouri it connected Joplin and Springfield before reaching St. Louis and crossing the Mississippi River toward Illinois. In Illinois the highway linked Springfield, Pontiac and terminated in Chicago at Jackson Boulevard and Lake Shore Drive.

History

Planned during the 1920s by figures including officials from the American Association of State Highway Officials and supported by groups such as the National Old Trails Road Association, the corridor was incorporated into the U.S. Highway System on November 11, 1926. Route alignments evolved through engineering efforts by Bureau of Public Roads engineers and state departments in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Illinois. During the Great Depression the highway facilitated migration tied to Dust Bowl displacement and movements chronicled by writers associated with Farm Security Administration photography and the works of John Steinbeck. World War II logistics used the route for access to Fort Bliss, Air Transport Command facilities and western defense installations. Postwar automobile travel and the rise of companies such as Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Standard Oil and Phillips 66 contributed to roadside commerce. The creation of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and construction of the Interstate 40, Interstate 44, Interstate 55 and other interstates led to gradual replacement and official decommissioning in 1985.

Cultural impact and legacy

The corridor influenced cultural figures and institutions such as writer John Steinbeck, photographer Dorothea Lange, musician Bobby Troup, and broadcaster Art Bell who referenced the route in diverse media. Tourist destinations like Petrified Forest National Park, Meteor Crater, Cadillac Ranch, Route 66 State Park and Standin' on the Corner Park became icons. Associations including the Route 66 Association chapters in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma advanced preservation. Historic motels such as Blue Swallow Motel and El Rancho Hotel and diners like Delgadillo's Snow Cap and companies like Harley-Davidson Motor Company fostered motor tourism culture. Academic studies at University of Oklahoma, Arizona State University, UCLA and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have examined socio-economic effects, while museums such as the Route 66 Museum in Clinton and Illinois Route 66 Museum curate material culture.

Major intersections and termini

Western terminus: Santa Monica Pier and U.S. Route 101 interchange near Pacific Ocean frontage. Eastern terminus: downtown Chicago at Jackson Boulevard and Lake Shore Drive. Major river crossings included the Colorado River at Needles/Topock, the Arkansas River near Tulsa, and the Mississippi River via Chain of Rocks Bridge into Illinois. Principal urban interchanges linked with Interstate 10, Interstate 15, Interstate 40, Interstate 44, Interstate 55, and U.S. Route 66 Alternate spurs near St. Louis. Freight and passenger rail adjacency included the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad corridors.

Preservation and tourism

Preservation efforts involved nonprofit groups such as National Trust for Historic Preservation, Route 66 Association of Missouri, Route 66 Association of Illinois and state historic preservation offices in California and Arizona. Federal recognition utilized listings on the National Register of Historic Places for segments including U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma and sites like Chain of Rocks Bridge. Tourism promotion by entities such as National Park Service, Travel Oregon-style agencies and local chambers of commerce revived road trips, driving festivals, and auto rallies organized by clubs like the Classic Car Club of America and Historic Vehicle Association. Economic redevelopment leveraged grants from Economic Development Administration programs and partnerships with businesses including Marriott International and independent motel owners to maintain vintage signage and neon landmarks.

Route in popular media

The road inspired the song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" by Bobby Troup, popularized by Nat King Cole and later covered by The Rolling Stones and Chuck Berry. Television exposure came via the 1960s series produced by Universal Television and starring actors linked to Rock Hudson-era studios. Films referencing the corridor included works by directors such as John Ford, Wes Anderson and Cameron Crowe, while novels and nonfiction by Steinbeck, Jimmie Rodgers-era chroniclers, and travel writers at National Geographic shaped public perception. Photographers like Ansel Adams and documentary filmmakers at PBS and American Experience have featured the highway in exhibitions and broadcasts. Video games, songs, and contemporary series on platforms like Netflix and Hulu continue to evoke its imagery, with tourism tie-ins promoted by organizations including Visit California and municipal tourism boards in Flagstaff and Albuquerque.

Category:Historic roads in the United States