Miles of History
Picture this: You’re driving on the open road. The windows are down. You’re singing along with the radio. Hills, mountains, and deserts are flying by. Road-trippers can experience this on Route 66. It’s one of the most famous roads in the U.S.
Route 66 spans 2,400 miles. It runs between Chicago, Illinois, and Santa Monica, California. It was established in 1926. This year marks its centennial, or 100th anniversary. The official birthday is November 11. But communities along Route 66 are celebrating all year.
Connecting the Country
When Route 66 was created, cars were fairly new. Roads in America, many of which started as Native American trails, were mostly made of dirt. Many were not connected. This made it hard to drive long distances. Route 66 connected a lot of them.
By 1938, all of Route 66 had been paved. By the 1950s, traveling via Route 66 was a popular choice for tourists. Families used it for sightseeing. They could stop at gas stations, shops, and motels. People enjoyed checking out quirky attractions along the way (see “Pull Over!”)
SELFIE SPOT A mural adorns a Route 66 gift shop in Seligman, Arizona. Travelers pull over to buy souvenirs.
JACOBH—GETTY IMAGESToday, Route 66 is considered a historic road. It’s no longer part of the numbered highway system that includes newer interstate highways. Certain sections are closed. But visitors can still drive on much of it and enjoy the rambling ride.
Driving Tourism
Cities along Route 66 are hosting festivals to celebrate its centennial. Springfield, Missouri, hosted the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration. That was in April. The city calls itself the “birthplace of Route 66.” The road was officially named there, says Mark Hecquet. He leads Visit Springfield, Missouri. It’s an organization that promotes tourism.
COOL RIDE A classic car cruises through the Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration, in Springfield, Missouri.
COURTESY VISIT SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURIHecquet told TIME for Kids he hopes travelers will stop and spend some time in Springfield before driving on. “We have a lot of other cool things to experience,” he says.
Tulsa, Oklahoma, hosted a classic car parade along the route. That was in May. It was the largest classic car parade in history: more than 3,500 drivers joined in. “Route 66 is such a big part of who Tulsa is as a city and our identity,” Jonathan Huskey told TIME for Kids. He’s senior director of communications for Tulsa Regional Tourism.
From rolling prairie to rugged desert, varied landscapes await those who drive Route 66. Throughout the year, tourists and locals alike will be celebrating the road’s impact.
William Thomas works with the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. He wants people to remember the road’s history. “This road is everybody’s road,” he told TFK. “It has connected all of us.”
HALFWAY THERE The exact midway point of Route 66 is marked by a sign in Adrian, Texas.
GCHAPEL—GETTY IMAGESPull Over!
Roadside attractions are a big part of what makes Route 66 so special. Some are strange. Some are silly. Some are historic. All of these attractions are a treat for drivers in need of a break.
The Blue Whale of Catoosa is a popular one. It’s 20 feet tall and 80 feet long. It was completed in 1972. This quirky Route 66 landmark is located in Catoosa, Oklahoma. Visitors can snap photos and enjoy a picnic in the surrounding park. They can even walk into the whale’s head.
More from History
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