Stretching from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road” and the “Main Street of America,” was one of the country’s major thoroughfares for nearly half a century. Route 66 became one of the most famous roads in America, having been popularized in American culture through books, songs, music, magazines, movies, and television shows…
The construction of the Interstate Highway System resulted in the eventual decline of Route 66, and correspondingly, many of the roadside attractions. Portions of the road have now been designated as National Scenic Byways or as “Historic Route 66” in several states including Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois, and Missouri. (Text credit: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration)
Joey Madia, an avid researcher, joins us to reveal a time of profound national transition and its continuing impact on American society.