Historic Route 66

Facts about “The Main Street of America”

Ever thinking about traveling on historic Route 66? Even though it is no longer listed on maps, you can still find it. Long replaced by interstates, this road still holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans. Anyway, listed here are some interesting facts about historic Route 66:

** Route 66 was also known as “The Mother Road”, “Highway of Dreams”, “Will Rogers Highway” and “The Main Street of America”.

** Current maps don’t include Route 66.

** Length of Route 66—2,448 miles

** Route 66 crosses 8 states (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California)

** Interstates which replaced Route 66: I-10, I-15, I-40, I-44 and I -55

** Route 66 starts in Chicago and ends at the Santa Monica Pier in California.

** The Father of Route 66—Tulsa businessman Cyrus Kelly, who wanted better roads from Chicago to Oklahoma and then on to the California coast.

**  Route 66 was commissioned in 1926. Back then only 800 miles of the 2448 were paved.

** All of Route 66 was paved by 1937.

** The TV series, Route 66, aired from 1960-1964. The stars were Martin Milner (Adam 12) and George Maharis. Maharis had to leave the series due to the illness and was replaced by Glenn Corbett. The show is still considered a cult classic. And, many now famous actors appeared on that series before hey hit it big”. Among those were: Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Gene Hackman and James Caan.

** The hit song “Get Your Kicks on Route 66”, has been recorded by the likes of Nat King Cole and Manhattan Transfer. That song was written by Bobby Troup, who went on to star as Dr. Joe Early in the 70’s drama, Emergency.

** Interested in Route 66 events? There are many Route 66 festivals, which are held in towns all along the route.

** Suggested reading: “Route 66: The Highway and Its People” by author Susan Croce Kelly.

** “The Route 66 Map Series”, by Jerry McClanahan and Jim Ross, is available at Amazon.com. The map series includes a history of Route 66, information pertaining to each of the eight states, and tips on how to find where Route 66 still is, since it isn’t listed on current maps.

Anyway, Route 66 is certainly a huge part of the Americana of the last century. Maybe everyone became fascinated with this road, because it represented the first road where Americans could get in their cars, and explore our great country. After all, cars hadn’t been around that long, when Route 66 first came into being, back in 1926. Anyway, this highway can still be found…….for those who want to try and “get their kicks on Route 66”.