U.S. Route 66

American history · travel · road trip

The Mother Road. U.S. Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926, and quickly became one of the most famous highways in America. People called it the "Mother Road" because it connected so many communities and became the main route for people traveling west.

Chicago to Santa Monica. Route 66 stretched for 2,448 miles across eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. It started in Chicago and ended right at the beach in Santa Monica, California.

Original highway system. Route 66 was one of the very first highways in the U.S. Numbered Highway System when it was created in 1926. Signs went up the following year to help travelers find their way across the country.

Dreams and adventure. For decades, Route 66 symbolized freedom and the chance for a fresh start as families packed their cars and headed west in search of opportunity and new beginnings.