ROUTE 66

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ROUTE 66

"the main street of america",
"The Mother of American Roads, "the Road of Life, the Will Rogers Highway — all of these names belong to the legendary Route 66

Where it all began

Route 66, or as it is called in the world Route 66 is one of the first highways in the U.S. road system, a true legend not only in North America, Will Rogers' highway is forever in the history of the world. Route 66 was the epitome of the dream of independence freedom and adventure. Many of the images that embody American culture and spirit are associated with Route 66.

Numerous stopping points, motels, restaurants, and gas stations sprang up along the road and became icons of car culture.

Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, a naval officer in the service of the Army Corps of Engineers and Surveyors

The U.S. was commissioned to build a government-funded universal road along the 35th parallel. This road became part of Route 66.

Construction of Route 66 near Hooker Township, Missouri

1857

in the United States: Chicago and Los Angeles, and was the most favorite road on the mainland for everyone, because its route passed through beautiful places and became significant for tourists to this day.

There were no road signs until 1927, and it was fully paved only 10 years later. It connected two important megapolitan giants

The number 66 in numerology is considered as the main number bringing earthly joys and success.

When it came time to assign a number to the route, controversy ensued. Cyrus Avery, an entrepreneur and author of the idea, who was actively involved in the construction, suggested the number 60, but John Page, an engineer, insisted on the number "66" because of its ease of pronunciation.

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The first trans-American highway in U.S. history was inaugurated

Cyrus Avery

from her. The route passed through many large and small towns, which created favorable conditions for family businesses: gas stations, service stations, restaurants everything a traveler might need.
During dust storms, many farm families (mostly from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas) migrated along Route 66 west to California. Because they thought that was where they would find happiness. The "Mother of Roads" became the main highway to achieve their goals.

The Great Depression hit the country and Route 66 literally helped those who lived in close proximity to it to survive

30s

J. Steinbeck, "The Grapes of Wrath"

The writer John Steinbeck described these difficulties in his novel The Grapes of Wrath, where the heroes of the book traveled along Route 66 in an old car in search of a better life. He also called it the Mother of American Roads in his novel.

The 1930s, the Great Depression

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in Springfield, Missouri, one of the first highways in the country to be numbered 66

Advertising for a national convention honoring Route 66 and Will Rogers

Will Rogers

was associated with many of the states of Route 66. Therefore, Route 66 received another unofficial name in honor of the great actor.
During World War II, the United States government decided to establish a military camp in the south of the continent. Therefore, after the end of hostilities, several hundred thousand soldiers traveled to California along Route 66.

Was one of the famous comedians of the 20s and 30s. It just so happens that the story of his life and career

Will Rogers

1956 marked the beginning of the end of Route 66. U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act into law. New highways were built to bypass the old highway.

Over time, the legendary highway disappeared from U.S. highway maps. At the end of the twentieth century, Route 66 was not in the best condition: some sections were deteriorating and the quality of the road surface was rapidly declining. But no one was thinking of tearing it down - the public took the initiative to make the road a national monument. Authorities combined the preserved sections and called them Historic Route 66.

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Construction of the last section was completed and Route 66 was written off

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Route 66 originates in Chicago, from the western edge of Michigan Avenue and travels through 8 states and 3 time zones, ending on the Pacific Coast.
Travel time averages from 2 weeks to a month

3,940 kilometers or 2,448 miles

Route 66 originates in Chicago, from the western edge of Michigan Avenue and travels through 8 states and 3 time zones, ending on the Pacific Coast.
Travel time averages 2 weeks to a month

3,940 kilometers or 2,448 miles