Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway in the U.S. Highway System. The famous highway originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kanasas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, before ending at Los Angeles. That’s about 3600 kilometers. It cut through 8 states right in the middle of America.
The cities between Chicago and Los Angeles are: Chicago – St.Louis – Oklahoma City – Amarillo – Alberquerque – Flagstaff – Los Angeles
Route 66 was the first paved highway which was made from a patchwork of existing Indian and pionier trails. The early roadbuilders always took the easiest possible way through mountains and desserts.
In the years of 1920 it became fairly driveable. In these times it was a favorite vacation route. In 1934 a heavy dust storm blew through the the middle west america and destroyed it. Rich tourists vanished and the route 66 was left to the now poor farmers who were driven out of their homes because of the new climate that was very dry. These poor people were heading to California to find better work and to have a better life.
Years after a famous song and TV series helped to keep high the reputation of the road. In the 50‘s and 60‘s the Route 66 was more crowded than it had ever been. The last Route 66 signs were taken down in Chicago in 1977.
Today most of Route 66 has been replaced by modern fourlane highways. There are only some pieces left where you can see the old Route. The largest rests for example are in north - western Arizona just south of Grand Canyon Nationalpark. In the little towns along the way a lot of things are left that remember someone of the old times faded billboards, junkyards with ancient automobiles and rotting wooden facades. Fans of the highway have got together and formed associations. They preserve the old resturants that were all along the old road. They organizes specilevents like rallies, fled-markets or exebitions where you can see old maps, postcards and road sings.
Nowadays many tourists take a journey by caravans down the road. They visit nice sites and like to expierence the spirit of the old road.
