Even though Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 by the federal government, the allure of this iconic road still lingers on. The highway contains a rich history that can still be explored today. Below is a brief history of this famous roadway as well as a few reasons why tourism in the area hasn’t slowed down.

Why Is Route 66 So Famous?

History

Route 66 began as an interregional connection between Chicago and Los Angeles created by entrepreneurs Cyrus Avery and John Woodruff. National highway construction plans weren’t enacted until 1925, and Route 66 got its number in the summer of 1926. Unlike other highways, the road was not linear. Instead, it linked communities diagonally, which proved particularly beneficial for the trucking industry, making trucks a direct rival of the railroads in the early 1930s.

John Steinback immortalized Route 66 in “The Grapes of Wrath” by calling it “Mother Road.” The name referenced the people who used it to escape the Dust Bowl and head to California. Route 66 also proved useful throughout World War II, facilitating the greatest wartime manpower mobilization in US history.

The movement west continued for years, with Route 66 being the main thoroughfare and leading to a tourism boom and attractions popping up along the way. Unfortunately in the 1950s under President Eisenhower’s Federal-Aid Highway Act, the road started to be replaced by interstate highway systems. By 1970, most of the road had been replaced by modern four-lane highways. Its official closure was in 1985.

Places to See

Tourism was different along Route 66 with many opting to stay in motels or cottages instead of hotels. Many of these sites still exist today, such as El Vado and Zia Motor Lodge in Albuquerque, AZ.

From Rolla to Springfield, MO, part of the road overlaps with the Trail of Tears or the route taken by the Cherokee in 1838 when they were forced to relocate. There is also the World’s Largest Rocker in Fanning, MO, as well as the Meramec River US 66 Bridge and the Route 66 State Park in Eureka.

In Kansas, you can see the Old Riverton Store, the oldest operating storefront along the road as well as the Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge. When you get to California, there’s Roy’s Motel and Café in Amboy. There is an array of other famous restaurants along the way as well, such as Lou Mitchell’s in Chicago, IL, and the Rock Café in Stroud, OK.

 

If you are interested in visiting Route 66 or in other amazing tourism opportunities in the Arizona and Nevada area, call Laughlin Tours. Their Grand Canyon tours and Hoover Dam explorations make them the top choice for guided tours in the region. Their Route 66 tours include a stop at the Route 66 Visitors Center & Museum in Kingman, AZ, before heading to Oatman for lunch. For more tourist information, call (702) 420-5345. Visit them online for a look at their popular tourism spots.