- A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING -
A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO ROUTES, HIGHWAYS AND WHATEVER ELSE FLOATS THE BOAT
- CHAPTER FIVE-
ROUTE 66
I know what you're thinking!
"What the hell? Route 66??? That's not a state!!! That's a highway!!"
And welcome to the guide you didn't realize you needed till right now.
"The hell!!! But okay, we'll listen, you got us with the Nat King Cole song --- Route 66!!!" your wife says, settling down into the nice soft chair.
"So, what the hell is Route 66 and should I care?" Hubby asks.
"Give us the Wikipedia answer!!" Wifey says, knowing full well now the procedures of this travel guide.
And we are here not to disappoint!
AS STOLEN FROM THE WIKIPEDIA
U.S. Route 66 (US 66 or Route 66), also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America or the Mother Road, was one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway System. US 66 was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year.[4] The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in the United States, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California, near Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km).[5] It was recognized in popular culture by both the hit song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s.
US 66 served as a primary route for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and the road supported the economies of the communities through which it passed. People doing business along the route became prosperous due to the growing popularity of the highway, and those same people later fought to keep the highway alive in the face of the growing threat of being bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System.
US 66 underwent many improvements and realignments over its lifetime, and it was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985,[2] after it had been replaced in its entirety by segments of the Interstate Highway System. Portions of the road that passed through Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated a National Scenic Byway of the name "Historic Route 66", which is returning to some maps.[6][7] Several states have adopted significant bypassed sections of the former US 66 into the state road network as State Route 66.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66
STATES THAT ROUTE 66 MADE ITS WAY THROUGH (and some of it can still be traveled nowadays all the way, including some states (as noted with links) already covered by this wonderful and grand guide!!) Some notes are stolen from the Wikipedia entry about Route 66 and can be found above at the link provided!
I've used the famous 'Quote' function of Blogger to note these stolen sections. ENJOY!!!
California
(The sign of US 66's western terminus at the Santa Monica Pier)
California probably will not make THE GUIDE as a separate entry but that may change or individual tourist spots that some people do not know about maybe entered as case by case (aka The Blogger discovers that Fresno, California has a sub sandwich shop that just makes you want to travel to Fresno, California for a sub!!
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
US 66 had its western terminus in California, and covered 315 miles (507 km) in the state.[55] The terminus was located at the Pacific Coast Highway, then US 101 Alternate and now SR 1, in Santa Monica, California. The highway ran through major cities such as Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino. San Bernardino also contains one of the two surviving Wigwam Motels along US 66. The highway had major intersections with US 101 in Hollywood, I-5 in Los Angeles, I-15, and I-40 in Barstow, and US 95 in Needles. It also ran concurrent to I-40 at California's very eastern end.[56]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66_in_California
Arizona
(US 66 marker on the corner of Navajo Boulevard and Hopi Drive in Holbrook, AZ)
Another possible entry into THE GUIDE unless The Blogger decides not to because his ADD made him spend the lot of his time in New Jersey which as we all know, is highly possible!!
In Arizona, the highway originally covered 401 miles (645 km) in the state. Along much of the way, US 66 paralleled I-40. It entered across the Topock Gorge, passing through the ghost town of Oatman along the way to Kingman.[57] Between Kingman and Seligman, the route is still signed as SR 66. Notably, just between Seligman and Flagstaff, Williams was the last point on US 66 to be bypassed by an Interstate. Holbrook also contains one of the two surviving Wigwam Motels on the route.[58]MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66_in_Arizona
New Mexico
(Old Route 66 westbound near I-40 exit 104)
Added to the possible states to be included in full details of future entries to THE GUIDE. Highly probably as a state entry on its own because well, it's New Mexico and I feel it needs an entry!!
US 66 covered 380 miles (610 km) in the state and passed through many Indian reservations in the western half of New Mexico.[59] East of those reservations, the highway passed through Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. As in Arizona, in New Mexico, U.S. 66 paralleled I-40.[60]MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66_in_New_Mexico
Texas
Probably will not be added to THE GUIDE except as a mention here. Everyone knows Texas is a whole different country even though it's a state. This refusal to give Texas its own entry in the guide may be reversed by future council meetings of The Great Guide Council of Fort Wayne, Indiana!
Okay, we may do an entry for such wonders as Paris, Texas as well as any other cities and spots we discover on our travels through time and space known as the Internet!!
US 66 covered 178 miles (286 km) in the Texas Panhandle, travelling in an east–west line between Glenrio, New Mexico and Texas and Texola, Oklahoma.[61] Adrian, in the western Panhandle, was notable as the midpoint of the route. East of there, the highway passed through Amarillo, famous for the Cadillac Ranch, Conway, Groom, and Shamrock.MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66_in_Texas
Oklahoma
(Pavement markings indicating the historic alignment of Route 66)
Entry already scheduled to be published on September 2nd, 2018. Oklahoma definitely rocks!!
(Note - Wikipedia puts Oklahoma and Kansas together as Kansas only had three cities on the Route!)
The highway covered 267 miles (430 km) in Oklahoma. Today, it is marked by I-40 west of Oklahoma City, and SH-66 east of there. After entering at Texola, US 66 passed through Sayre, and Elk City before entering Oklahoma City.[62] Beyond Oklahoma City, the highway passed through Edmond on its way to Tulsa. Past there, US 66 passed through northeastern Oklahoma before entering Kansas where it covered only 13.2 miles (21.2 km).[63] Only three towns are located on the route in Kansas: Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs.MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66_in_Oklahoma
Kansas
(Brush Creek rainbow bridge)
Entry already scheduled to be published on September 1st, 2018. Another rocking state!
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
Missouri
(A 1949 drive-in cinema entertained viewers before the 1953 arrival of local TV stations to Joplin-Springfield)
We sooooooo want to add this state to THE GUIDE in probably all likelihood we will. Why?
Because we can!!
US 66 covered 292 miles (470 km) in Missouri. Upon entering from Galena, Kansas, the highway passed through Joplin. From there, it passed through Carthage, Springfield, where Red's Giant Hamburg, the world's first drive-thru stands, Waynesville, Devils Elbow, and Rolla before passing through St. Louis.[64]
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66_in_Missouri
Illinois
(US 66 sign, Adams Street, Chicago)
Everyone knows Chicago but Illinois is more than just that so it definitely will be entered into THE GUILD. Because well, it just seems like a rocking place to go and hide a body, oops, I mean, travel to for a tourist destination.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT :
US 66 covered 301 miles (484 km) in Illinois. It entered Illinois in East St. Louis after crossing the Mississippi River. Near there, it passed by Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highway then passed through Hamel, Springfield, passing by the Illinois State Capitol, Bloomington-Normal, Pontiac, and Gardner.[65] It then entered the Chicago area. After passing through the suburbs, U.S. 66 entered Chicago itself, where it terminated at Lake Shore Drive.[66]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66_in_Illinois
So we made it through the Mother Road, and you know what, WE FEEL FINE!!!
So until next time, keep traveling and we'll keep a light on!!!
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