100 Years of Route 66 | HISTORY
During the 20th century, Route 66 epitomized opportunity and reflected the country’s exponential growth. Take a look back down the “Main Street of America.”
Route 66
Route 66: The Iconic Highway’s Rise and Decline
The construction of the interstate highway system in the mid-1950s forever changed the road once known as “America’s Main Street.”
8 Historic Stops Along Route 66 You Can Still Visit
Route 66 attractions, like the Kan-O-Tex Service Station and the first McDonald’s site, preserve the famous highway’s past.
Why Missouri Claims to be the ‘Birthplace’ of Route 66
Route 66 got its name in Springfield, Missouri, in 1926 after much debate. Author John Steinbeck later dubbed it the “Mother Road.”
8 Things You Might Not Know About Route 66
Explore the celebrated roadway, much of which remains drivable today.
Along Route 66
Chicago’s famous nickname dates back to the 19th century.
See the drastically different ideas that were considered for the St. Louis monument.
The first drive-in opened in New Jersey in 1933.
Explore some surprising facts about this famed symbol of the U.S. movie industry.
“If you ever plan to motor west / Travel my way, take the highway that’s the best / Get your kicks on Route 66.”
– Bobby Troup, composer and lyricist of “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66”
America’s Highways
Dwight Eisenhower’s grueling, 62-day cross-country trip planted the seed.
The intent was to create a calm, shady spot for tired drivers.
America’s interstate highway system cut through dozens of urban neighborhoods.
Cars
24 Cars That Made America
Which were the most influential cars in U.S. automotive history? Here are our picks.
Electric Vehicles Have Been Around Since the 19th Century: Timeline
Electric vehicles were some of the earliest automobiles ever invented—and, unlike early gas-powered cars, they didn't require a crank to start the engine.
When Were Seat Belts Invented?
Seat belts came in simpler designs before safety concerns drove innovation, leading to the three-point version that is standard today.
Are We There Yet? A History of Popular Car Games
Amusements included the license plate game, I Spy and Mad Libs.
Riding in Style
The Top Selling Cars in Every Decade
Check out the most popular cars of every decade, from the Ford Model T to the Tesla Model S.
Food on the Go
California’s In-N-Out Burger brought drive-thru dining to the mainstream.
The sandwich’s roots trace back to ancient times.
The dish took its name from an 18th-century English nobleman.
Ancient vessels captured holy water, and spas advertised healthful spring water.
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It’s hard to credit a single person with inventing the automobile. Not only did an estimated 100,000 patents lead to cars as we know them, but people also disagree on what qualifies as the first true automobile. For historians who think that early steam-powered road vehicles fit the bill, the answer is Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, a […]
When Were Cars Invented? The 1901 Mercedes, designed by Wilhelm Maybach for Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, deserves credit for being the first modern motorcar in all essentials. Its thirty-five-horsepower engine weighed only fourteen pounds per horsepowe...
In 1886, German inventor Karl Benz patented what is generally regarded as the first modern car. Less than two decades later, in 1903, Massachusetts and Missouri became the first states to require a driver’s license, although it wasn’t necessary to pass a test to obtain one. In 1908, Henry Ford launched the Model T, the […]
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on June 29, 1956. The bill created a 41,000-mile system of interstate highways that Eisenhower promised would eliminate unsafe roads, inefficient routes and traffic jams.
The monument's colorful history includes a fraudulent bond election, a mistaken design competition winner—and a civil rights protest in the sky.
Explore some surprising facts about this famed symbol of the U.S. movie industry.
The future fast-food giant started out as anything but swift, serving up slow-cooked barbecue. How did it become the behemoth it is today?
Route 66 got its name in Springfield, Missouri, in 1926 after much debate. Author John Steinbeck later dubbed it the “Mother Road.”
The construction of the interstate highway system in the mid-1950s forever changed the road once known as “America’s Main Street.”
Explore the celebrated roadway, much of which remains drivable today.
Chicago’s famous nickname dates back to the 19th century.
Route 66 attractions, like the Kan-O-Tex Service Station and the first McDonald’s site, preserve the famous highway’s past.
