The 2,400-mile historic highway stretches across eight states to connect Chicago and Santa Monica
The legendary Route 66, synonymous with the American road trip, turned 100 this week.
The 2,400-mile historic highway stretches across eight states, connecting Chicago and Santa Monica. It has been the backdrop of several novels, including John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, and popular TV shows like Breaking Bad.
But much of that roadside glamour has faded. Its iconic neon-sign diners, gas stations, and motels now stand as relics of another era. When the interstate highway system overtook the two-lane route in the 1980s, it took with it the steady stream of travelers that had kept these towns alive.
Still, Route 66 is far from silent. Thanks to historic preservation initiatives, visitors from the US and beyond continue to flock to roadside curiosities such as Oatman, Arizona, a former Wild West mining town.
The centenary is already having an impact
To mark the 100th anniversary, several museums are hosting exhibitions about Route 66 in the coming months.
There is also a bipartisan push in Congress to secure National Historic Trail status for the entire route to encourage regional economic growth.