Route 66

Route 66

Introduction It's 1957. You take the top down on your red sports car. Rock 'n' roll music blasts from the speakers. Ahead of you is nothing but open road. Could this drive get any better? You think not-until you pass an ice cream cone that's three stories tall. Your mouth waters. Should you stop? Wait-there's a cheeseburger the size of a bus. Time for a quick lunch instead! When it's time to rest for the night, you park next to a hotel room shaped like a teepee. What a fun day it was on the road! Who knows what tomorrow will bring? If you thought this was an imaginary road trip, you're wrong. You've just taken a real trip down America's favorite highway, Route 66.

America's Main Street Have you ever seen a road map of the United States? It looks a lot like a spiderweb. Huge highways zigzag from coast to coast. They connect nearly every city in between. Getting around is easy: just jump in a car and hit the road! A hundred years ago, driving across the country wasn't quite so easy. Most “ roads" were just small dirt trails. Cars often broke down, got stuck in mud, or popped tires on jagged rocks. In the 1920s, the United States government created new highways to make driving easier. One highway stretched 2, 400 miles (3, 862 km) from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. Its name was Route 66, but many fondly called it the " Main Street of America. "

In 1929, hard times hit the United States. Many banks failed, causing people to lose their money, jobs, and homes. The period that followed was known as the Great Depression. Then a series of droughts--long periods without rain-destroyed many farms. This historic time period was known as the Dust Bowl era. Suddenly, many people were forced to leave their homes. Many believed they could find jobs in California. Thousands packed up their belongings and made the long journey west. How did they get there? On a new road named Route 66.

On December 8, 1941, the United States entered World War II. Soldiers from all over the country had to move to military bases in the West. How did they get there? On Route 66, of course! Restaurants, gas stations, and hotels opened up along the route to serve them. When the war ended in 1945, Americans celebrated. Many bought new cars. They drove west to see sights like the Grand Canyon-by way of Route 66!

Route 66 in Popular Culture The years after World War II were great days for Route 66. Shiny new cars and yellow cabs traveled up and down the route. In 1946, a song called “ Route 66" became a top hit. Its most famous line told listeners to " get your kicks on Route Sixty-Six. " This song helped make the highway famous. Then, in 1960, a TV show called Route 66 followed two friends who drove across the country. They were looking for adventures on the road. By 1970, most of the original Route 66 was bypassed by a new highway. However, Route 66 remained part of American popular culture.