Route 66 is a famous American highway that once stretched from Chicago in the east to Los Angeles in the west. It has had many names in the past and is most often called the Main Street of America or Mother Road. Route 66 originally ran through 8 states andcovered almost 4,000 kilometers.

The idea of creating an east to west highway came up in the 1920s. A plan was drawn up to connect a series of state roads to one big national highway.  In 1926 US Interstate Highway 66 was officially opened. It became America’s most famous road, passing through many cities and crossing deserts, valleys, and mountains. Route 66 was especially popular among travelers because it did not cross the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains, but instead, led through the flatter part of the American southwest.

Route 66 was primarily a road that brought many Americans to the western states in search of a new life and new jobs, especiallyduring the Great Depression of the 1930s. As a result many stores, gas stations and other businesses opened up along Route 66.

 

Map of Route 66

 

In the early decades of the 20th century  many roads had a dirt or gravel surface. In 1938, Route 66 became the first road in America to become completely paved. During World War II Route 66 became the major road for moving military equipment across the country. After the war more and more people travelled west, this time mainly as tourists, who were looking for freedom, liberty and excitement.

During time Route 66 underwent many changes. The original route was often altered. As traffic westwards increased the Americangovernment started building bigger, broader roads on which cars and trucks could travel faster. When a new highway system wasintroduced in America Route 66 was no longer important. It officially ceased to exist in 1985.       

Route 66 has had its fixed position in American culture. It played a major part in John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath”.  In the 1940s Nat King Cole recorded a song about America’s prime highway which became a major hit and has been sung by many bands later on.

Today groups have been formed to bring Route 66 back to life again. In the past ten years the government in Washington has providedmillions of dollars to revive America’s mother of roads.

 

Cadillac Ranch along Route 66

 

 

What to see along Route 66

• Meramec Caverns in Missouri is a system of caves that spreads along the highway for almost 7 km. Visitors can see stalagmitesand stalactites in many different forms and colours.
• Cadillac Ranch is a sculpture that is made up of old painted Cadillacs buried halfway into the ground with their tails pointedupwards.
• Petrified Forest National Park is one of the natural wonders of Arizona. Trees that are millions of years old have turned to stone inunusual shapes.
• Painted Desert has bands of colorful rocks that have been deposited there over millions of years