U.S. Route 66

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"Route 66" redirects here. For other highways with the same number, see List of highways numbered 66. For other uses, see Route 66 (disambiguation).

Template:Infobox road

U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. Established on November 11, 1926, with signage erected the following year,[1] the highway ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before terminating in Santa Monica, California, covering 2,448 miles (3,940 km).[2]

US 66 became a major route for westward migration, particularly during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and contributed to the economic development of communities along its path. It later faced decline as traffic was diverted to the Interstate Highway System in the mid-20th century.

The highway was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985[3] after being largely replaced by Interstate highways. Many segments of the former route have since been preserved as Historic Route 66, a National Scenic Byway, and incorporated into state and local road systems.[4]

Route 66 has been widely represented in American popular culture and is often referred to by nicknames such as the Mother Road, a term popularized by John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939), as well as the Main Street of America and the Will Rogers Highway.[5] The road and impact of the Interstate Highway System bypassing small towns along the route was central to the story in Disney's 2006 animated film Cars.

History

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Template:Lengths table |-align=center |California |style="text-align:right;"|316 |style="text-align:right;"|509 |-align=center |Arizona |style="text-align:right;"|401 |style="text-align:right;"|645 |-align=center |New Mexico |style="text-align:right;"|487 |style="text-align:right;"|784 |-align=center |Texas |style="text-align:right;"|186 |style="text-align:right;"|299 |-align=center |Oklahoma |style="text-align:right;"|432 |style="text-align:right;"|695 |-align=center |Kansas |style="text-align:right;"|13 |style="text-align:right;"|21 |-align=center |Missouri |style="text-align:right;"|317 |style="text-align:right;"|510 |-align=center |Illinois |style="text-align:right;"|301 |style="text-align:right;"|484 |-align=center |Total |style="text-align:right;"|2,448 |style="text-align:right;"|3,940 |}

Before the U.S. Highway System

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File:Rte66RightOfWayMarker.jpg
A remnant of an original state right-of-way marker from early construction of US 66

In 1857, Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale of the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers was directed by the United States Department of War to construct a wagon road along the 35th parallel. The route, later known as Beale's Wagon Road, was intended to improve transportation across the southwestern United States and included experiments with the use of camels as pack animals. Portions of this route were later incorporated into alignments of US 66.[6]

Before the creation of a nationwide system of numbered highways, long-distance travel in the United States relied on a network of privately marked auto trails. The route that later became US 66 incorporated segments of several of these trails, including the National Old Trails Road, parts of the Ozark Trails system, and, in the Midwest and South, portions of routes such as the Lone Star Route.[7] These routes were often indirect and inconsistently marked, leading to calls for a standardized national highway system.

Like other early U.S. highways, Route 66 was assembled from existing local, state, and national road networks rather than built as an entirely new road. Its proposed Chicago–Los Angeles alignment gained support because it connected established regional centers along an existing transcontinental corridor.[8]

Federal involvement in highway development expanded with the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 and the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921. In 1925, Congress authorized the creation of a national system of numbered highways, and the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) began developing a uniform plan for route designations.[9] Businessman Cyrus Avery and others advocated for a Chicago–Los Angeles route, which became US 66 when the system was implemented in 1926.

Birthplace and rise of US 66

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File:US 66 Arizona 1926.svg
The route sign from 1926 to 1948 in Arizona
File:Woodruff Building Springfield MO Sept2025 A.jpg
Route 66 marker outside the Woodruff Building in Springfield, MO.
File:Adams Street WB past Michigan Avenue Chicago.jpeg
Modern 'historic' signage in Chicago

Designation and early development

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The numerical designation for U.S. Route 66 was assigned in 1926 as part of the initial planning of the United States Numbered Highway System. The route connected Chicago and Los Angeles, linking a series of existing regional roads into a continuous transcontinental highway.[10]

The designation of U.S. Route 66 followed a dispute over numbering within the newly planned highway system. Promoter Cyrus Avery initially sought the designation US 60 for the Chicago–Los Angeles route, but officials in Kentucky successfully argued that US 60 should instead follow an east–west corridor through their state. Alternative proposals included assigning the Chicago–Los Angeles route to US 62 or splitting US 60 into multiple branches. The issue was resolved when Oklahoma highway engineer John M. Page identified 66 as an unassigned number, which Avery accepted as the designation for the route.[10]

Although the route was designated in 1926 and signed in 1927, it remained partly unpaved for several years. By 1938, US 66 became the first U.S. highway to be fully paved, improving long-distance travel across the central and southwestern United States.[11][12]

Promotion and growth

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File:Chain of Rocks.jpg
The Chain of Rocks Bridge across the Mississippi River was built to carry the growing traffic of US 66 around the city of St. Louis.

Following its designation, the U.S. Highway 66 Association was established in 1927 to promote paving, maintenance, and tourism along the route. Led by Cyrus Avery and others, the organization marketed US 66 as a major transcontinental highway and encouraged travel along it.[13]

Promotional efforts included national advertising campaigns and events such as the 1928 "Bunion Derby", a transcontinental footrace that followed much of the route and attracted national attention.[14] The association also promoted travel through print advertising, including a 1932 campaign in the Saturday Evening Post encouraging Americans to travel US 66 to the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which generated widespread public interest in the highway.[14] The organization continued to advocate for businesses and communities along the route until it disbanded in 1976.

Migration and economic impact

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During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, US 66 became a major route for westward migration, particularly for people traveling from the southern Great Plains to California in search of work. Many of these migrants—often referred to at the time as "Okies", especially those from Oklahoma—traveled along the highway, a movement later depicted in works such as John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (1939). Increased traffic along the route contributed to the growth of service industries in communities along the highway, including filling stations, restaurants, and motor courts.[10]

Tourism and roadside culture

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File:Magnolia gasoline station, Shamrock, TX IMG 6141.JPG
Restored Magnolia gasoline station museum on Route 66 in Shamrock in Wheeler County, Texas

By the mid-20th century, U.S. Route 66 had become a major corridor for automobile tourism, particularly for travelers heading to destinations in the American Southwest such as the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. Increased traffic contributed to the growth of roadside businesses, including motels, restaurants, and service stations, many of which became characteristic of long-distance travel in the United States.[15]

This growth also led to the development of distinctive roadside architecture and attractions, such as teepee-shaped motels and themed service stations. Notable surviving examples include the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas, an art deco–style service station and café listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[16]

The expansion of automobile travel along the route also contributed to the early development of the fast-food industry, including drive-through restaurants and regional chains that catered to motorists.[15]

Changes in routing

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File:Route66 sign.jpg
Modern-day sign in New Mexico, along a section of Route 66 designated a National Scenic Byway

As the highway system developed, U.S. Route 66 underwent numerous realignments to improve safety and efficiency. In Illinois, the route was shifted in 1930 between Springfield and East St. Louis to a more direct alignment, roughly corresponding to present-day Interstate 55.[17]

Similar changes occurred elsewhere. In Oklahoma, a straighter route completed in 1933 bypassed earlier alignments through smaller towns, while in New Mexico a major realignment in 1937 created a more direct east–west route through Albuquerque, significantly reducing travel time.[17]

In 1936, the western terminus of US 66 was extended from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica, connecting with U.S. Route 101.[17] The highway was also incorporated into early freeway development; in 1940, the Arroyo Seco Parkway in Los Angeles became part of US 66.

File:Rte66btwnOatmanAndKingman.JPG
Route 66 just west of the Sitgreaves Pass between Oatman and Kingman

By the 1950s, many segments of US 66 were bypassed by new, higher-speed alignments. In Arizona, for example, the steep and winding route through the Black Mountains near Oatman was replaced in 1953 by a more direct highway between Kingman and Needles, contributing to the decline or abandonment of communities along the older alignment.[17]

With the construction of the Interstate Highway System in the mid-20th century, sections of US 66 were progressively replaced or rerouted onto new freeways. The reassignment of the route onto interstates, along with restrictions on roadside advertising following the 1965 Highway Beautification Act, contributed to reduced traffic on older alignments and the decline of many businesses that had depended on highway travelers.[18]

Decline

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File:Whiting bros.jpg
Abandoned Whiting Brothers gas station along former US 66
File:OldalignIL.jpg
An abandoned early US 66 alignment in Illinois, 2006

The decline of U.S. Route 66 began with the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which authorized construction of the Interstate Highway System. The new limited-access highways provided faster, more direct routes and gradually replaced older highways such as US 66.[19]

Even before the Interstate era, sections of US 66 had been widened or realigned to accommodate increasing traffic. In states such as Illinois and Missouri, large portions of the highway were expanded to four lanes and included bypasses around towns, many of which were later incorporated into Interstate routes.

In 1953, one of the first major bypasses occurred with the opening of the Turner Turnpike between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, followed by the Will Rogers Turnpike in 1957. These toll roads paralleled US 66 and diverted traffic away from towns along the original route.

File:Abandoned gas station - Two Guns, Arizona.jpg
The ghost town of Two Guns, Arizona, once featured a zoo, gift shop, restaurant, campground, gas station and "death cave"

Similar changes occurred across the Southwest. In New Mexico, plans for Interstate 40 encountered resistance from communities concerned about economic impacts, but most towns were eventually bypassed during the 1960s and 1970s. As Interstate construction progressed, traffic increasingly shifted away from US 66.

In several states, local business owners and civic leaders opposed the construction of interstate bypasses, fearing the loss of traffic and revenue. In New Mexico, for example, some communities resisted plans for Interstate 40 to bypass their towns, prompting negotiations over route placement to preserve access to local businesses. Similar concerns were raised elsewhere along US 66 as interstates diverted travelers away from established commercial corridors.[20]

The decline of roadside businesses was accelerated by the 1965 Highway Beautification Act, which restricted roadside advertising along interstate highways, making it more difficult for travelers to locate businesses on older alignments.[21]

File:Amboy (California, USA), Hist. Route 66 -- 2012 -- 1.jpg
Old Route 66 near Amboy, California

By the late 1970s, most sections of US 66 had been replaced by Interstate highways. The route was gradually decommissioned, and in 1985 the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials officially removed US 66 from the United States Highway System.[3]

After decertification

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File:Sidewalk Highway (3).jpg
"Sidewalk highway" section of former US 66 near Miami, Oklahoma

Following its decommissioning, segments of former U.S. Route 66 were incorporated into a variety of local, state, and federal road systems. In many urban areas, portions of the route were redesignated as business loops for nearby interstates, while other segments became state highways, local roads, or were abandoned.

Although US 66 no longer exists as a continuous route, substantial portions of its original alignment and later realignments remain in use. Some stretches have been preserved in near-original condition, including narrow early alignments known as "sidewalk highways", which consist of a single paved lane with curbs and gravel shoulders.[22]

In several states, portions of the former route retain the "66" designation as part of state highway systems, such as State Highway 66 in Oklahoma and State Route 66 in Arizona. Other segments are marked as "Historic Route 66" and maintained for tourism and preservation purposes. Some municipal roads along the old route have also retained the "66" number.[23][24]

Preservation efforts by local and national organizations have contributed to the continued visibility of Route 66 as a historic transportation corridor.

Revival

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File:SoulsbyServiceStation MtOliveIL.jpg
Restored service station in Mount Olive, Illinois

Early preservation efforts

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Following the decommissioning of U.S. Route 66, preservation efforts began at the state and local levels. The first Route 66 associations were established in Arizona in 1987 and in Missouri and Illinois shortly thereafter, promoting the preservation and commemoration of the historic highway.[25]

States also began designating surviving segments as "Historic Route 66". In 1990, Missouri declared its portion of the highway a state historic route, a model later followed by other states. Many states and communities now mark the route with highway markers or route shield pavement marking, especially as Route 66 markers are common targets of street sign theft.[26]

Federal and national recognition

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Preservation efforts expanded at the national level in the late 20th century. In 1999, President Bill Clinton signed the National Route 66 Preservation Act, which provided federal support for preserving and restoring historic features along the route.[27]

The National Park Service developed the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and a Discover Our Shared Heritage travel itinerary documenting historically significant locations along the route.[28]

In 2008, the World Monuments Fund included Route 66 on its World Monuments Watch, citing threats to historic roadside architecture from development and neglect.[29]

Cultural revival and tourism

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File:Snow cap seligman.jpg
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman, Arizona. The eatery is still a popular tourist stop.

Since the late 20th century, Route 66 has experienced a revival as a heritage tourism destination, attracting both domestic and international travelers.[30] Preservation groups have worked to restore historic motels, gas stations, and neon signage associated with mid-20th-century automobile travel.[31]

Festivals, museums, and local initiatives have contributed to renewed public interest in the route and its cultural significance.

Route 66 is also commemorated in museums and interpretive sites along its former route. Examples include the National Route 66 & Transportation Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma, which covers all eight Route 66 states;[32] the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma, operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society;[33] and the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Illinois, which houses Route 66 memorabilia and artifacts.[34] The route is also interpreted by the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., in its "America on the Move" exhibition, which highlights the role of highways in American transportation and culture.[35]

Modern initiatives

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Efforts to commemorate and reinterpret Route 66 have continued into the 21st century. Proposals have been made to restore the route as a continuous highway, though these have raised concerns about balancing modernization with historic preservation.

In 2018, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials designated the first sections of U.S. Bicycle Route 66, part of the United States Bicycle Route System, in Kansas and Missouri.[36]

In 2026, the United States Postal Service issued Forever stamps featuring designs from Route 66 to commemorate the route's centennial.[37]

Route description

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Over the years, U.S. Route 66 received several nicknames. Early in its history it was referred to as "The Great Diagonal Way", reflecting its diagonal alignment across the Midwest. The U.S. Highway 66 Association later promoted it as "The Main Street of America". In John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath, the highway was called "The Mother Road", a name that became widely associated with the route.[38]

California

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Main article: U.S. Route 66 in California
File:End of Route 66.jpg
The replica of a movie prop sign found on the Santa Monica Pier. The western terminus of US 66 is nine blocks east of this sign.

US 66 ran for approximately 315 miles (507 km) in California, from the Arizona state line to its western terminus in Santa Monica. The highway passed through San Bernardino, Pasadena, and Los Angeles before reaching the Pacific coast at the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards.[39]

Arizona

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Main article: U.S. Route 66 in Arizona
File:Route 66 in Holbrook.JPG
US 66 marker on the corner of Navajo Boulevard and Hopi Drive in Holbrook, Arizona

In Arizona, US 66 covered roughly 401 miles (645 km) and closely paralleled what is now Interstate 40. The route entered near Topock, passed through Kingman, Seligman, and Flagstaff, and continued east toward New Mexico. The town of Williams was the last community on the route to be bypassed by an Interstate highway.[39]

New Mexico

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Main article: U.S. Route 66 in New Mexico

US 66 covered 380 miles (610 km) in the state and passed through many Indian reservations in the western half of New Mexico.[40] East of those reservations, the highway passed through Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Vegas. As in Arizona, in New Mexico, U.S. 66 paralleled I-40.[41]

Texas

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Main article: U.S. Route 66 in Texas
File:US66 midpoint café Adrian TX.jpg
The Midpoint Café in Adrian, Texas, at the midpoint of the route

US 66 covered 178 miles (286 km) in the Texas Panhandle, travelling in an east–west line between Glenrio and Texola.[42] Adrian, in the western Panhandle, was notable as the midpoint of the route. East of there, the highway passed through Amarillo (famous for the Cadillac Ranch), Conway, Groom and Shamrock.

Oklahoma and Kansas

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Main articles: U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma and Kansas
See also: Oklahoma State Highway 66 and K-66 (Kansas highway)

U.S. Route 66 ran for approximately 376 miles (605 km) across Oklahoma, generally following a west–east alignment that is now paralleled by Interstate 40 in the western part of the state and by State Highway 66 in the central and northeastern regions.[39] The highway entered the state at Texola and passed through major communities including Elk City, Clinton, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa before continuing toward the Kansas state line.

In Kansas, US 66 covered a short distance of about 13 miles (21 km), passing through Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs before entering Missouri.[39]

Missouri

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Main article: U.S. Route 66 in Missouri

US 66 covered 292 miles (470 km) in Missouri. Upon entering from Galena, Kansas, the highway passed through Joplin. From there, it passed through Carthage; Springfield, where Red's Giant Hamburg, the world's first drive-thru was located; Lebanon; Waynesville, Devils Elbow; and Rolla before passing through St. Louis.[43]

Illinois

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Main article: U.S. Route 66 in Illinois

US 66 covered 301 miles (484 km) in Illinois. It entered Illinois in East St. Louis after crossing the Mississippi River. Near there, it passed by Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highway then passed through Hamel, Springfield (passing by the Illinois State Capitol), Bloomington-Normal, Pontiac and Gardner.[44] It then entered the Chicago area, originally through Joliet and later through Plainfield. After passing through the suburbs, U.S. 66 entered Chicago itself, where it terminated at Lake Shore Drive[45] starting in 1938, having originally ended at Michigan Avenue.

Special routes

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Main article: Special routes of U.S. Route 66

Several alternate alignments of US 66 occurred because of traffic issues. Business routes (BUS), bypass routes (BYP), alternate routes (ALT) and "optional routes" (OPT) (an early designation for alternate routes) came into being. An Alternate 66 existed in the Los Angeles area. Business routes also existed in San Bernardino, Amarillo, Clinton (OK), Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. Various business, bypass, and alternate routes were located in the Joplin and Springfield (MO) areas and in several locations in Illinois.

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U.S. Route 66 has been widely represented in American popular culture, reflecting its historical role in travel, migration, and the development of automobile culture. The highway was popularized in music by Bobby Troup's 1946 song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", first recorded by Nat King Cole, which became a standard later performed by numerous artists across many genres.[46]

The route also lent its name to the television series Route 66 (1960–1964), which followed two young men traveling across the United States.[47]

In literature, John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939) portrays westward migration along US 66 during the Dust Bowl, referring to it as the "Mother Road", a phrase that became closely associated with the highway.[48]

Route 66 has also been depicted in film, including the animated feature Cars (2006), which portrays a fictional town bypassed by an Interstate Highway, reflecting the decline experienced by communities along the route.[49][50]

In the 21st century, Route 66 has continued to be recognized in popular media and public commemorations, including its depiction in digital media such as Google Doodle features marking significant anniversaries of the highway.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Route 66 Timeline". Legends of America. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ "A Table of Mileposts for the Original US 66 Alignment of 1926". Route 66 Web & Atlas. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AASHTO85
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NSB
  5. ↑ Longfellow, Rickie (June 30, 2023). "Route '66' The Mother Road". Federal Highway Administration.
  6. ↑ "Beale Wagon Road". National Park Service.
  7. ↑ "Route 66: The Main Street of America". Federal Highway Administration.
  8. ↑ "Route 66: 1926–1945". National Park Service.
  9. ↑ "Creation of U.S. Numbered Highway System". Federal Highway Administration.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Weingroff, Richard F. "From Names to Numbers: The Origins of the U.S. Numbered Highway System". Federal Highway Administration.
  11. ↑ "Route 66: The Main Street of America". Federal Highway Administration.
  12. ↑ "Route 66 Fact Sheet" (PDF). Federal Highway Administration.
  13. ↑ Dedek, Peter B. (2007). Hip to the Trip: A Cultural History of Route 66.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Dedek, Peter B. (2007). Hip to the Trip: A Cultural History of Route 66. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-0826341945.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Wallis, Michael. Route 66: The Mother Road. New York: St. Martin's. pp. 90–92. ISBN 0-312-08285-1.
  16. ↑ National Park Service (n.d.). "Texas: Wheeler County". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 National Park Service (n.d.). "Route 66". National Park Service. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Route 66 in Arizona Multiple Property Submission". National Park Service. April 5, 1989. pp. 25–26.
  19. ↑ Petroski, Henry (2006). "On the Road". American Scientist. Vol. 94 no. 5. pp. 396–399.
  20. ↑ "U.S. Route 66 in Arizona Multiple Property Submission". National Park Service. April 5, 1989. pp. 25–26.
  21. ↑ "U.S. Route 66 in Arizona Multiple Property Submission". National Park Service. April 5, 1989. pp. 25–26.
  22. ↑ "Historic Route 66". Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
  23. ↑ "Route 66: The Main Street of America". Federal Highway Administration.
  24. ↑ "Seligman Historic District". National Park Service.
  25. ↑ Cobb, Nathan (May 3, 1992). "Searching for Route 66". Boston Globe. p. 18. Template:ProQuest. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Finding Your Way on Route 66". Route-66.tv. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  27. ↑ Welch, Kevin (July 1, 1999). "House OKs Route 66 Bill". Amarillo Globe-News.
  28. ↑ "Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program". National Park Service.
  29. ↑ "Historic Route 66". World Monuments Fund.
  30. ↑ "LAST FINAL VOLUME I-kf-ea REV" (PDF). National Park Service. p. 4.
  31. ↑ Juozapavicius, Justin (May 20, 2007). "Route 66 Motels an Endangered Species". The Oklahoman. Associated Press.
  32. ↑ "National Route 66 Museum". City of Elk City, Oklahoma.
  33. ↑ "Oklahoma Route 66 Museum". Oklahoma Historical Society.
  34. ↑ "Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum". City of Pontiac, Illinois.
  35. ↑ "The People's Highway". National Museum of American History.
  36. ↑ Charboneau, Michael (July 16, 2018). "Get Your Kicks Biking Route 66". CityLab.
  37. ↑ "Postal Service Announces 19 New Issuances for 2026". United States Postal Service.
  38. ↑ McClure, Rosemary (November 29, 2010). "Get Your Kicks on Route 66—and 499 Other Great Highways". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 "Route 66: The Main Street of America". Federal Highway Administration.
  40. ↑ "Route 66". AmericanSouthwest.net. John Crossley. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Route 66 History". Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  42. ↑ Weiser, Kathy (2011). "About Texas Route 66 – Info & History". Legends of America. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  43. ↑ Weiser, Kathy (2012). "About Missouri Route 66: Info & History". Legends of America. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Historic Route 66: Illinois". Historic66.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  45. ↑ Illinois Division of Highways (April 1, 1955). Illinois Official Highway Map (Map). 1:805,000. Springfield: Illinois Division of Highways. Chicago and Vicinity inset. OCLC 713840599. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2014 – via Illinois Digital Collections.
  46. ↑ "Route 66: The Main Street of America". Federal Highway Administration.
  47. ↑ Snyder, Tom (2000). Welcome to the Old Road. St. Martin's Press.
  48. ↑ Steinbeck, John (1939). The Grapes of Wrath.
  49. ↑ "Pixar's Cars revisits Route 66". Los Angeles Times.
  50. ↑ "How Route 66 inspired Disney's 'Cars' and Cars Land — and the ride that never came to be". Los Angeles Times. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.

Further reading

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Template:US Highways Template:US 66

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