1) Route 66 Has Been Called The Main Street of America
staticflickr.com
Route 66 also has been called the Mother Road and Will Rogers Highway.
2) It Was Paved in 1926
Flickr User P. Bieniek
It crosses the path of the National Old Trails Highway that came before it.
3) The Highway Originally Passed Through 8 States!
Flickr User coolgk
Count ’em! Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
4) Route 66 Covers 2,451 Miles!
hswstatic.com
Now *that’s* a road trip. Though we believe Route 66 Arizona is the best part of the highway to explore. Especially by motorcycle.
5) Route 66 Has its Own Songs and TV Shows
visitusa.org
Bobby Troup wrote the song “(Get Your Kicks) On Route 66.” Also, the CBS TV show “Route 66” featured two young men in a Corvette on their road trip across the United States.
6) Businesses Prosper Along the Edge of Route 66
Flickr User John Ulmanis
Route 66 is so popular and has so much traffic, that there is a visible economic impact on the communities it passes through.
7) Route 66 Was Connected to the U.S. Highway System in 1985
Flickr User mokastet
The members of the communities surrounding Route 66 fought to keep the highway but were ultimately defeated.
8) Parts of Route 66 Have Been Designated as National Scenic Byways
Flickr User Arne
You can also find these parts on a present-day map and drive them in Illinois, Missouri, Arizona, and New Mexico.
9) People Have Stenciled the U.S. Route 66 Arizona Shield
Flickr User Vincente Villamon
This isn’t just for looks! Instead, it became a simple solution after repeated thefts of the ” Route 66″ signs by tourists and souvenir hunters. Local communities decided to act and fix these problems for good.
10) It is Preserved by a Federation
upload.wikimedia.org
The National Historic Route 66 Federation is also a nonprofit organization that has existed for 22 years now. It strives to remind the public about Route 66’s historic importance.