Route 66 Turns 100: The Highway That Became America’s Mother Road
A century ago, a new highway designation helped change how Americans traveled, worked, and explored their country.
On November 11, 1926, U.S. Route 66 officially became part of the nation’s developing highway system. Stretching about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, the road became one of the most recognizable highways in American history.
Known as the “Mother Road” and the “Main Street of America,” Route 66 connected cities, small towns, and rural communities across eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
What began as a practical transportation route eventually became a symbol of freedom, adventure, and the American dream.
Connecting a Growing Nation
When Route 66 was established, automobile travel was becoming increasingly popular, but long-distance driving remained difficult.
Roads were often poorly maintained, and many rural communities had limited connections to major transportation routes.
Rather than constructing an entirely new highway, officials connected existing roads into a continuous route between the Midwest and the West Coast.
The highway...