Everything Everywhere Daily Route 66 (Encore)
Feb 6, 2025
Explore the fascinating history of Route 66, established in 1926 as a crucial connection between Chicago and Los Angeles. Discover how this iconic highway transformed American transportation and culture. Learn about its role during the Great Depression, aiding migrants seeking work, and how it faced racial challenges. Delve into the rise and fall of this beloved route, along with its resurgence in popular culture, showcasing nostalgia and lasting impact on America’s identity.
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Automobiles Changed Transportation
- Before cars, roads were local and goods moved by water or train.
- Automobiles allowed quicker personal travel and trucking, necessitating a national road system.
Early Highway Legislation
- The 1916 Federal Aid Road Act was the first national highway legislation.
- This led to state highway agencies and federal funding, with Wisconsin being the first to number highways.
Naming of Route 66
- Cyrus Avery championed the Chicago-Los Angeles route, initially proposed as Route 60.
- Kentucky's objections led to a compromise, eventually settling on Route 66.