Route66 Factoids
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- Rte66 is 2448 miles long (about 4000 km)
- It crosses 8 states and 3 time zones
- "It winds from Chicago to L.A." (Santa Monica)
- In 1926 only 800 miles of Rte66 were paved
- Route 66 was the title of a TV series playing 1960 - 1964
- The "Father of Rte66" is Cyrus Stevens Avery
- Immortal words "Get your kicks on Route 66" were penned in 1946 on Rte66
- Rte66 was built from 1926 - 1937
- Officially, the numerical designation 66 was assigned to the Chicago-to-Los Angeles route in Summer 1926
- John Steinbeck proclaimed U.S. Highway 66 the
"Mother Road" in The Grapes of Wrath
- An estimated 210,000 people migrated to
California to escape the despair of the Dust Bowl
- From 1933 to 1938 thousands of male youths from all states worked as
laborers on Rte66
- Robert William Troup, Jr., of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania wrote "Route 66"
- Nat King Cole hit with "Route 66" in 1946
- Townspeople provided auto camps, precursors of cottages and cabin camps
- Cabin camps (cottages) had amenities and shelter
- Motor courts (motels) had souvenirs, pools, and restaurants
- The service station concept was born with Rte66
- The Federal Aid Highway
Act of 1956 initiated the interstate and defense highway sytem
- By 1970 most of Rte66 was replaced by four-lane highway
- The final section of original road was replaced by Interstate 40 at
Williams, AZ October 1984
- Rte66's 75'th birthday is 2001
- The Eagles' "Take It Easy" immortalized Rte66 in Winslow, AZ
- 11 killed in Rte66 "Flood of 1948"
- June 28 is Route66 Day
- Lucille Hamons is "Mother of the Mother Road"
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[Gracious thanks to the graphics creators]

Oatman, AZ

Route66 Bridge, Oklahoma

Snow Cap; Seligman, Arizona
Route66 GuestBook
(Enter your message below)
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Going to make my initial trip on 66 from l.a.
suggestions as to what to see and where to go. Going to just head east until we run out of time and/or money.
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SUBJ: 1952 Trip to AZ |
pado@earthlink.net |
12 June 01 |
Paul Hale |
707N. Main, Belvidere IL 61008 |
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1952 Trip to Az. in a 1948 Studebaker
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Flying from Bermuda to StLouis June 22 to drive to Barstow on 66...any hints on getting on 66 from St.Louis?
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SUBJ: Someday we'll travel it |
v.haga@online.no |
12 May 01 |
Vigleik Haga |
Andfiskå Norway |
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Some day we'll travel it, all the road along.
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Probably the most active site remaining to give you the real feel of old 66, is the intersection in Litchfield, IL. You can also stop there at
the Ariston Restaurant for a sort of 50's lunch/dinner. At that
point,the traffic is very reminiscent of those days as it constantly
streams past. The second best site is most likley at Eureka, MO setting
outside at Phil's BBQ Quanset hut. Lastly, while now removed from 66 and
still close to I-44, at the Washington, MO exit, is the old Shangri Lai
restaurant now called the Stl Truckport. Its truly interesting when you
actually go in and discover all the activites that used to take place
there including the bus stop, the Tasty Freeze the other stuff. 66 is
great for historic places. But, if you do all this, try to take the OLD
route through the heart of ST, Louis City and imagine yourself in a
4500lb, 10 mpg beast at rush hour! In the heart of STL you will drive
past such places as the Watson RD. businesses that are still
standing--old motels, old donut shops, and many other scenic/historic
places. You can now actually walk across the old Chain of Rocks Bridge,
in the north end of STL area and once a part of 66. |
When I was 5 years old my family drove from the east coast to California via RT.66 in an English Ford Console Convertible. My mom was careful to save the water when we crossed the desert. This was in the sixties and AC was kind of new. Caddy's blew past us with their windows up and ac going full blast. We later passes them on the side of the road overheated. We faired okay in the desert. |
want to run route66 in a streetrod or
old truck,i got a pt cruiser. custom
flames,dice on mirrow,on wheels,and doorlocks,or there any cruises plan. for its 75th birthday. |
To get my Mother's old Route 66 place, Lucille's in OK, restored to its original condition. |
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Rte.66 & Burma Shave
Rte.66 Songs
Rte.66 Books
Burma Shave
John Steinbeck
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