Steve Snyder
Author of SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth
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June 27, 1985 - Route 66 DecertifiedAfter 59 years, the iconic Route 66 enters the realm of history when the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officialsdecertifies the roadand votes to remove all its highway signs.Measuring some 2,200 miles in its heyday, Route 66 stretched from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, passing through eight states. According to aNew York Timesarticle about its decertification, most of Route 66 followed a path through the wilderness forged in 1857 by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Edward Beale at the head of a caravan of camels. Over the years, wagon trains and cattlemen eventually made way for trucks and passenger automobiles.The idea of building a highway along this route surfaced in Oklahoma in the mid-1920s as a way to link the state to cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. Highway Commissioner Cyrus S. Avery touted it as a way of diverting traffic from Kansas City, Missouri and Denver. In 1926, the highway earned its official designation as Route 66. The idea of building a highway along this route surfaced in Oklahoma in the mid-1920s as a way to link the state to cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. Highway Commissioner Cyrus S. Avery touted it as a way of diverting traffic from Kansas City, Missouri and Denver. In 1926, the highway earned its official designation as Route 66. The diagonal course of Route 66 linked hundreds of mostly rural communities to the cities along its route, allowing farmers to more easily transport grain and other types of produce for distribution. The highway was also a lifeline for the long-distance trucking industry, which by 1930 was competing with the railroad for dominance in the shipping market.Route 66 was the scene of a mass westward migration during the 1930s, when more than 200,000 people traveled from the poverty-strickenDust Bowlto California. John Steinbeck immortalized the highway, which he called the “Mother Road,” in his classic 1939 novelThe Grapes of Wrath.Beginning in the 1950s, the building of a massive system of interstate highways made older roads increasingly obsolete, and by 1970, modern four-lane highways had bypassed nearly all sections of Route 66. In October 1984, Interstate-40 bypassed the last original stretch of Route 66 at Williams, Arizona, and the following year the road was decertified. According to the National Historic Route 66 Federation, drivers can still use 85 percent of the road, and Route 66 has become a destination for tourists from all over the world.Often called the “Main Street of America,” Route 66 became a pop culture mainstay over the years, inspiring its own song (written in 1947 by Bobby Troup, “Route 66″ was later recorded by artists as varied as Nat “King” Cole, Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones) as well as a 1960s television series. The historic highway was featured prominently in the hit animated film “Cars” (2006).
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Kevin A. Weakley
Junior Cybersecurity Consultant | Front-end Software Developer | Lifelong Learner
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There are, I assume, some markers left memorializing it, Steve Snyder. Could there also be ways to virtually trace ALL of it, and leave further, unmovable references, since not all of that original road remains?
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Joe McAuliffe
Officially retired
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Did the Route 66 trip on a Harley-Davidson Road King in 2006, guided by the “Lonely Planet guide”, tried to do as much as possible on the old road and were possible stayed and ate in local run businesses, had a great time, in only rained once after cutting the corner of Kansas
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Adam Vogt
Experienced physical security systems professional excelling in physical access control, surveillance/video management systems, emergency communication, system's analysis, integration, and administration
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Interesting post. Today I am in Santa Monica from Wisconsin and we just completed the entire Route 66 trail. It was interesting and saw some neat things and some things.
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David Gilmour
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Whilst one is understanding of the need to 'move on', such an icon should not just vanish into oblivion.It is still a significant tourist draw for both the internal and external markets.
Jim Durling
Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) Senior Engineering Specialist (Consultant)
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You can get your kicks there:https://youtu.be/9nuDE1SJlPo?si=P97duAVS-SayVSwk
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Cole W.
Finding AP Automation Opportunities | Symbeo, a CorVel company
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Said hello to Don and his girl in that flatbed ford at Winslow after spending the night in ABQ. Also have a picture of me and my wife under the sign on Santa Monica pier marking the end of 66. Done my share of diners along the way from my home in Chicago.
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Jim Gallen
Member, Evans & Dixon L.L.C. Defends Illinois Workers' Compensation cases
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I road a few miles on the historic Rte. 66 in Illinois earlier this year, just to do it.
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David J. F.
RETIRED! (Freelance)No fake invitations, investments or bitcoin
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Never had the pleasure of driving that route. Knew sections, especially the terminus at the Santa Monica Pier.
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Alan W.
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The best way to see it today is FROM THE AIR! - Stay Tuned!
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Ronald Allen Knief
Nuclear Engineer - Educator - Author - Retiree
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Here in Albuquerque we have quite a few signs for “Old 66” . . .Back in the day, I drove most all of it!
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Steve Snyder
Author of SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth
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Steve Snyder
Author of SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth
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Steve Snyder
Author of SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth
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Steve Snyder
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Steve Snyder
Author of SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth
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Dark Waters (2019) - The system is rigged https://www.youtube.com/
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Steve Snyder
Author of SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth
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Steve Snyder
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