Rediscovering Route 66

As the song by Bobby Troup goes:

If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, the highway that's the best.

We didn't take our kids to see CARS the Disney movie, but we did get them the DVD. Well, its turns out that our 3-year old is especially fond of it and can't go a day without watching it. I have sat with him and watched it a few times. The story centers around a race car stuck in a small town on the famous Route 66.

My knowledge is a little foggy about this famous road. I do recall James Dean and the movie, "A Rebel without a Cause" that also took place on Route 66. Also, the television show ,"Route 66" that aired in the 60s, made an impact in its popularity. John Steinbach, in his famous book The Grapes of Wrath, called it the Mother Road.

I have learned it's called The Main Street of America and Will Rogers Highway.

Route 66 was officially named a highway on Novermber 11, 1926. It originated in Chicago and went through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. It ended in Los Angeles, essentially it ran across middle to western America.

Like the railroad and the rivers, the communities lying on Route 66's path, also had economic stability, people became wealthy as its popularity grew.

By the mid 50s cars were getting more popular, so were the filling station , restaurants, souvenir shops and landmarks which brought the popularity of this road to its peak. People planned cross-country road trips because there was so much to see on Route 66.

With the threat of a new highway, the communities came together and fought to keep the highway open.

On June 27, 1985 US 66 was officially removed from the United States highway system. Once replaced by the Interstate Highway System, parts of it have been designated a "National Scenic Byway"

I don't know about you but after watching CARS and learning more about this "Main Street", I am planning a road trip!

By the way, I also found out that most of the movie, plot, characters, cars were all based on real people and places on Route 66. Well, its going to be fun looking for a Mater look alike.

:If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, the highway that's the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66