Cruising Route 66

In the early 1900s, cars were still a relatively new invention, owned mostly by the wealthy. That changed as they became less expensive. Between 1910 and 1920, the number of registered vehicles in the U.S. soared from 450,000 to 8 million.

But the country’s roads were a mishmash of dirt, gravel, and brick, and they didn’t connect. U.S. officials envisioned roadways that would stretch across states, making long-distance travel easier. They started building federal highways in 1926.

U.S. Highway 66, better known as Route 66, was one of the first to be completed. It weaved together existing roads, winding over plains in the Midwest, across the desert, and through mountains in the West. Along the way, it passed through many town and city centers.

The Great Depression struck in 1929, just a few years after Route 66 opened. Across the nation, businesses closed and banks ran out of money. Many people lost their jobs and life savings.

Adding to the crisis, drought and dust storms ravaged the Great Plains starting in 1931, making it nearly impossible for farmers in the region to grow crops. The disaster and affected area came to be known as the Dust Bowl.

Route 66 became a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Americans during that time. They packed up everything they owned and traveled along the highway to California in search of work.

The increase in traffic helped popularize Route 66—and the towns it ran through. It became one of the nation’s first fully paved highways in 1938. Motels, diners, and other local businesses along the roadway thrived.

During World War II (1939-1945), another type of traffic hit Route 66. The U.S. military used the road to move troops and supplies.

As soldiers returned home after the war, the economy boomed. Many Americans had more money to take vacations. Millions drove along Route 66, heading for destinations like the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

They had no choice but to pass through various towns and cities along the way. Communities added neon signs and roadside attractions like souvenir shops and giant statues. Even more restaurants, motels, and gas stations sprang up.

During the 1950s, many restaurants added drive-in or drive-through options to entice travelers. Hotels and other businesses built multiple locations along Route 66 as they expanded into national chains.

By the end of the decade, the highway had become a symbol of freedom and adventure. But that freedom wasn’t extended to everyone. For many decades, Black Americans, Latin Americans, and Indigenous peoples faced discrimination on the roadway.

Black motorists, for example, were barred from some businesses because of their race, like they were in many parts of the country at that time. They had to rely on special travel guides that listed safe places to eat, rest, and get gas on Route 66. “[The highway] may have represented freedom, but it didn’t always bring it,” explains David Dunaway, an author who has written about Route 66.

As the 1960s approached, the push for better roads put the brakes on Route 66. Americans wanted to get where they were going faster.

So in 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act. That law created the interstate highway system. New interstate highways were built, bypassing small towns. Fewer drivers chose Route 66. By 1985, it was decommissioned as a federal highway. 

Today people can still drive parts of Route 66, even though the full highway no longer exists. Many of the towns that flourished during its prime have gotten smaller or disappeared altogether. But more than 250 remaining landmarks and sites have been officially recognized for their history and importance.

About 2 million to 3 million travelers from around the world head to Route 66 every year to experience its nostalgia. Even more people are expected to visit this year for the roadway’s 100th birthday.

“It’s really a way to step back in time,” Franz says. “I think that’s what people find appealing.”