Point of origin: Chicago
What was the significance of Route 66? This sentiment was expressed by John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath when he said, “Route 66 is the mother road, the road of flight...” The road had seen a nation's struggle but also captured the American spirit of freedom, bravery, and progress. It is for this reason imagery of Route 66 is found in cafes around the world. It has become a symbolic representation of an opportunity for anyone wanting to construct something.
Route 66 commences at Adams Street, Chicago and concludes at Santa Monica, Los Angeles on the Pacific coast. It encompasses eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. It also crosses three time zones and covers a distance of 3,943 kilometers.
Route 66 is one of the most significant roads in America. In the first half of the 20th century it transcended the borders of America through itss culture. Even today, it is the most filmed road in the world.
It calls to mind the solitary cross-country trek of Forrest Gump; the meandering path that leads to self-discovery for the character played by Norah Jones in Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights; the road travelled by the characters who epitomize the Beat Generation in Jack Kerouac's On the Road; and it is the road along which pilgrims travel to honor the legacy of the Beat Generation. This is where Route 66 starts; it is the starting point of an American dream journey.
All kinds of towns dot the landscape
WILMINGTON IL
Wilmington is incredibly small. It has a single gas station, a shop, and a large figure holding a rocket.
Impressive roadside attractions like the Gemini Giant never let bak the charm of Route 66.
Braidwood, IL
Braidwood is home to the Polk-a-Dot Drive In, a diner so architecturally striking, the town seems to revolve around it. Its pale blue polka dot pattern harkens back to a bygone era, but somehow feels fresh and modern.
Dwight, IL
The 1940 Texaco Station in Dwight has been meticulously maintained and is a relic of a different time. Many travelers would pass through in search of the proverbial 'golden west' and a better life. The old fuel pumps, wooden structures, rusted advertising boxes and faded metal signs lost their utilitarian function but still exude the optimism of yesteryear.
Odell, IL
The aging ExxonMobil station in Odell features a circular Pegasus emblem and a tattered American Flag. Towns near the eastern beginning of Route 66 are close in proximity, not allowing for any sense of wilderness. This only makes the open road that lies ahead all the more appealing.
Pontiac, IL
Pontiac is known for it's mural culture (not graffiti, but legitimate storytelling murals) associated with Rt. 66. The most notable is the painted shield of Route 66 located next to the Wishing Well Motel. Pontiac is also associated with Bob Waldmire, a Rt. 66 legend.
During his time at the university, he sketched some aerial views of cities across America. After that, he bought a Chevrolet school bus and traveled along Route 66 while painting. He chose to live along the road in an eco-friendly way by using energy-saving methods.
ATLANTA IL
There is a store in Atlanta that is filled with old treasures from Route 66. They have photos from the highway's glory days, old toy cars, portable gas cans, shoe polish tins, and license plates of all sorts. The owner, Mike, said the store holds his memories. He said that it used to not have a name, but now it does. Calling it a store is an understatement. It is a memory house, and there is a big new sign that says “Memories” above the door.
STANTON IL
Stanton is home to less than 20 people, but it has a biological research institute. They have alligators, jaguars, snakes, and toads, and they also serve as an animal shelter for abandoned pets.
CUBA IL
The Merrimac Caverns Cemetery in Cuba is less bizarre than it is solemn. Each grave has a metal plaque etched with a short story about the person that was buried there. When the wind passes, the stories seem to rise and float up toward heaven.
ROLLA MO
There is not much to see in Rolla besides the old, abandoned MULE TRADING POST. As for the mules, there are none in sight. Many roads run parallel to each other in this area, but Route 66 is the only one that is worth the drive.
CARTHAGE MO
Once you reach Carthage, heading west means getting into the true rhythm of the road. Driving, and then more driving.
You never know what surprises the next stop will bring when you're in pursuit of clouds, light, and sunsets.
WEBB CITY MO
Webb City’s water tower has the appearance of an alien spaceship from the movie Men in Black. Anything with an extraterrestrial theme possesses an inexplicable magnetism.
CARTERVILLE MO
With its abandoned roads, vacant stores, and some of the most dilapidated signs of Route 66, Carterville looks almost like a ghost town, which only makes it more interesting to investigate. The desolate atmosphere is akin to what you would find in an American television crime drama.
GALENA MO
Galena is reputed to have provided inspiration for some of the automotive characters in the film Cars, and here you can see the real versions of Mater, Doc Hudson (the judge and ex-race driver), and Red the fire truck.
COMMERCE OK
Commerce has a dessert shop named "DK."
OKLAHOMA CITY OK
Just outside Oklahoma City is another great roadside attraction, the Blue Whale of Catoosa. About 40 years ago, zoologist Hugh Davis built this strange structure as a whimsical gift for his wife Zelta, a whale biologist.
HYDRO OK
In Hydro, a random stop might lead you to a barbershop with a firefighter’s outfit displayed outside. “It is my honor,” says the owner, who is a retired firefighter. The business card reads “CITY BARBER SHOP,” with Mr. Ed's signature, and “My job is to get your head” as a slogan. It is a perfect example of American humor. On the back are three statements: “1. If you don’t know me, you lose nothing.
"If you don’t know who we are as a church, you lose something. 3. If you don’t know who Jesus is, you lose everything.”
CLINTON OK Clinton is a town named after a president and among other things, has several stores, including one that specializes in firearms. The firearms that they sell are semi-automatic repeaters, revolvers, and rifles. Their prices range from $300 to $500. In the same store, you can buy toys, car parts, and clothes. There is also a bearskin hanging behind the counter which adds a bit of character to the store.
GUYMON OK The town of Guymon hosts Pioneer Day, which is a celebration of the westward expansion of the United States. The parade is a mini representation of the American melting pot with displays of car culture, cowboys, Native Americans, and Mexicans.
SPRINGER OK A large yellow sign says, “Welcome to New Mexico”. The roads of New Mexico are densely isolated. The width of the desert is endless with no cars and a long straight road that appears to go on forever.
ROSWELL NM The name Roswell is closely associated with the Roswell Incident. On July 6, 1947 an explosion was said to shake the ground. The next day, local rancher Mac Brazel went to check his livestock and found some strange glowing fragments scattered on the grass which were neither metal nor plastic. Reportedly, he also found a large, structured wreck in the brush some distance away. Later the U.S. Air Force claimed to have found the remains of what they described as small humanoid beings. This is the story that surrounds the Roswell incident in New Mexico.
LUPTON AZ The Yellowhorse Trading Post stretches along a section of the road.
At the eastern end, there is an expansive region with a massive cave, where several Native American tents are positioned against the rock walls.
WINSLOW AZ
Winslow became a part of mainstream culture in 1972 when the Eagles made the song “Take It Easy” a hit. The lyrics mention Winslow.
WILLIAMS AZ
Being close to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Williams is the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway. This makes the town an important and busy transfer station, as many travelers stop there to continue to the canyon from the railway. With this, Route 66 finally feels like it has some company.
SELIGMAN AZ
Seligman is considered by some to be the best preserved town along Route 66.
KINGMAN AZ
There are rows and rows of old cars in Kingman, and they are all about the same thing;
classic American cars.
ORO GRANDE CA
In Oro Grande, the Bottle Tree Ranch has become a destination in itself. A Route 66 feature in City Pictorial magazine by Zeng Han, “the Bottle Tree Man,” left a particularly strong impression on the author. Easy to locate once you enter California on Route 66, look for the unmistakable entrance marked by a wheel, an iron bull, and a tree-shaped metal frame topped with a trident and covered in glass bottles.
Final stop: Santa Monica Beach
Los Angeles is where even the longest tale must end, where the most amazing journey ends. From here, Route 66 crosses into the City of Angels, also known as the City of Sin.
