route 66

 

Route 66

The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the famous song, written by Bobby Troup, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” about Route 66, a 2448 mile long interstate highway which extended from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA.  While the highway, whose construction was enacted in 1925, was mostly bypassed by wider highways by 1970, and decommissioned in 1985, people continue to travel it’s path, enjoying attractions and historical spots in eight states along the way.

According to the How Stuff Works website, the iconic Route 66 is filled with stories – connecting people, beautiful scenery, towns, and ideas.

Did you know?

In 1928, Andy Payne ran the “Transcontinental Footrace” for 573 hours from Los Angeles to New York City, along Route 66 and beyond.

There is a “Begin Historic Route 66” sign in Chicago.

route 66 begin sign

Lucille Hamons showed so much kindness at her service station in Hydro, OK, that she became known as the Mother of the Mother Road.

Cyrus Stevens Avery, who owned a service station and restaurant in Tulsa, OK. became known as the father of Route 66 for lobbying      Congress to make Route 66 a National Highway.

You have made it halfway when you reach The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, the geographic midway point.

Follow your map as Route 66 crosses over itself in Albuquerque, NM.

The Chain of Rock Bridge in St. Louis was in the movie, “Escape From New York”.

The first McDonald’s, opened in 1940, was on Route 66 on 14th and E streets in San Bernardino, CA.

John Steinbeck, refers to Route 66 as the “Mother Road”, in his book Grapes of Wrath.

Route 66 crosses 3 time zones.

Kansas has the shortest section, consisting of only 13 miles and Oklahoma has the most miles.

Five interstate highways, I-55, I-44, I-40, I-15, and I-10 replaced most of Route 66.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Lifestyle Magazine. (June, 2020). Route 66: Fun Facts.  https://americanlifestylemag.com/life-culture/travel/route-66-fun-facts/

How Stuff Works. (2009). What’s so special about Route 66? https://www.howstuffworks.com/route-66.htm

Legends of America. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/66-facts/

McDonalds. History. https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/about-us/history.html