zzzs | Route 66

door Jon Editor

In this column: The history and importance of Route 66, cities, the route, landscape, the highway in photos, dust bowl, Will Rogers Highway, Bobby Troup, Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, 

Land: Verenigde Staten
Length: 3.943 km
Start /End Point: Los Angeles, CA (1926-1936), Santa Monica, CA (1936-1985)
Start /End Point: Chicago, IL
Build: 11 november 1926
Abolition: 27 juni 1985

View Route 66 (2) for pictures along the road.

 US Route 66

U.S. Route 66

Route 66 was a historic highway, which began in Chicago and ended at the beach of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica near Los Angeles. The total length was 3940 km.
US66 runs through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The road is also known as the Will Rogers Highway.
In 1985 US66 was officially dissolved after the Interstate Highway System took over the long-distance traffic. Many tourists still follow the old path of Route 66.

Will Rogers (photo Greenwood and Greenwood); William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American cowboy, vaudeville performer, newspaper columnist, and actor. Known as Oklahoma's Favorite Son.

Will Rogers Highway

June 26, 1952, Route 66 was rededicated as the Will Rogers Highway. This was one of the many ceremonies that took place on the state lines of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California as well as Oklahoma, when a booster caravan traveled from St. Louis (Mo.) to Santa Monica (CA.). The Caravan was organized by the Natl. U.S. Highway 66 Assoc., Warner Brothers Film Studio, Ford Motor Company, and the Rt. 66 Associations from those eight states.

The original bronze plaque placed here to mark the dedication read:
Will Rogers Highway
Dedicated 1952 to Will Rogers
Humorist - World Traveler - Good Neighbor
This Main Street of America
Highway 66
Was the first road he traveled in a career that
led him straight to the hearts of his countrymen.

Cultural background

Route 66 played an important role in American culture of the 20th century. In the thirties, the road was used by people who traveled to California to escape the Dust Bowl; large dust storms on the plains of the middle of the United States. The writer John Steinbeck described in his novel "The Grapes of Wrath", the fate of a poor family who fled the Dust Bowl on Route 66.
After World War II many new car owners used the road to drive from one end of the country to another. The road is a nostalgic symbol of the role of the automobile in American society during the period from the thirties to seventies of the last century.

Dust bowl
Baxter Springs 50th
Off Route 66 in Ash Fork, Arizona. Photo by Harry Pherson.
Kingman 50th

Big cities
Los Angeles, Chicago, Flagstaff, Kingman, Albuquerque, Santa Monica, Amarillo, Tulsa, Williams, Santa Fe, Oatman, Oklahoma City, Tucumcari, Saint Louis, Barstow, Gallup, Springfield, Seligman, Needles, San Bernardino, Holbrook, Amboy, Rancho Cucamonga, Winslow, Joplin, Beverly Hills, Victorville, Santa Rosa, Pasadena, Shamrock, Newberry Springs, Peach Springs, Elk City, Joliet, Claremore, Bagdad, Glenrio, El Reno, Rolla, Waynesville, Topock, Catoosa, Carthage, Edmond, Bloomington, Edwardsville, Clinton, Glendora, West Hollywood, Rialto, …

The Winona trading Post, Winona, Arizona, by James R. Powell

The bold marked cities are mentioned in the song Get your kicks on Route 66. You miss; "don't forget Winona".
Winona is now little more than a name on the exit sign. At one time its icon was the Winona Trading Post.
East of Flagstaff and most of eastern Arizona old Route 66 is blocked. Unlike the long stretches found in the western half of the state, here the old road exists only as short segments running through towns, and you have to get on and off the old road.

(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66

In 1946, the jazz composer and pianist Bobby Troup wrote his most famous song (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 , after he himself had used the highway to travel to California. He gave it to Nat King Cole who made it one of the biggest hits of his career. It was later a hit for Chuck Berry, and is then performed by many other artists, including the Rolling Stones.

Bobby Troup

Bobby Troup with Dorothy Malone & Rosemary Clooney performing Route 66 in 1956

Nat King Cole
Chuck Berry
The Rolling Stones together in their hotel at 2 a.m. after a British concert, 19th May 1976. Accompanying the group on tour is Keith Richards' six year-old son Marlon. Left to right: Charlie Watts, keyboard player Billy Preston, percussionist Ollie Brown with Marlon Richards, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman and Ron Wood.

US66 runs through the states Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Californië.

Map route 66
Begin in Adamsstreet Chicago, Illinois
Up and down the countryside, Illinois
Cayuga to Chenoa, Illinois
Devil's Elbow Bridge, Illinois
Missouri State line
Drive in Carthage, Missouri
The Rainbow Curve bridge, Kansas (marsh arch bridge)
The Rainbow Curve bridge, Kansas (marsh arch bridge)
Near Tulsa, Oklahoma
Near Tulsa, Oklahoma
Baxter Springs, Texas
Baxter Springs, Texas
Galena, Texas
Galena, Texas
Phillips 66 gas station McLean, Texas
Phillips 66 gas station McLean, Texas
Near Groom a landmark, was a water tower, Texas.
Near Groom a landmark, was a water tower, Texas.
Adrian, Texas
New Mexico after Tucumcari
New Mexico after Tucumcari
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Williams, Arizona
Sitgreaves pass, road from Kingman to Oatman, Arizona
Oatman, Arizona
Wild Burros of Oatman, Arizona
Chambless, California
Amboy, San Bernardino County, California
Barstow, California
Los Angeles, California
End of route; Santa Monica Pier, California