Route 66 is one of the most famous stretches of road in the world. At its conception, this expanse of highway served a practical purpose, facilitating travel for millions of drivers traveling cross-country. While this famous highway is no longer a viable route across the country, it’s legacy lives on as an integral part of American culture and tourism. The following will expand on the history of this iconic stretch of road. 

Route 66’s Origin

United States Highway 66 was commissioned in 1926. In its prime, it was a 2,448-mile, two-lane highway that stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles. At the time, east to west travel across America was limited to a series of linear roads.

The brainchild of businessmen Cyrus Avery and John Woodruff, Route 66 took a diagonal configuration, which reduced the distance from Chicago to LA by over 200 miles.

In addition to convenient travel, Route 66 gave many small towns access to a major road. It served as a symbol of opportunity as it offered these small towns a means of escape from the Dust Bowl as well as an opportunity to thrive thanks to the increased traffic flow through the town. 

Its Downfall

By the end of WWII, Route 66 was in a state of disrepair. Alternate roads were constructed with even more direct paths, diverting away from the original route. By the 1970s, five different interstates took the place of Route 66. Route 66 lost its official U.S. Highway designation in 1985, but it had already embedded itself into the fabric of American culture.

Route 66 Today

Though many current maps of the United States no longer include this famous road, it lives on through tourism. The signage was taken down, and parts of the road are completely missing; however, Route 66 is kept alive by advocacy and government organizations that seek to protect the historical landmark and increase tourism to see it.

 

Check out Route 66 for yourself with Laughlin Tours of Clark County, NV. From the Route 66 Visitors Center in Kingman, their knowledgeable tour guides will take you through the Black Mountains and into Oatman for lunch and shopping. Visit them online to learn about this tour as well as their other exciting tourism opportunities or call them today at (702) 420-5345 for more information.