story by Steve Razo, BLM California photo by Staff, BLM California
In the heart of the California desert, between the towns of Barstow and Needles, stretches a 320-mile ribbon of history, most of which traverses public lands and serves as a symbol of the pioneering spirit of emigrants coming West and an icon of American freedom and mobility.
Dubbed “The Mother Road,” in John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” Route 66 continues to be an international bucket-list item for many travelers wanting to – as the song goes – get their “kicks on Route 66.”
Route 66 had its beginnings in the West’s old wagon roads of the 1800s. Later, the railroads followed much of this same corridor, further establishing routes that would ultimately become part of Route 66. Towns established themselves along the route and became hubs for trading posts, hotels and restaurants. Many roadside services such as gas stations and diners were established as a result of this road. In fact, it has been said that Route 66 led to the invention of the motel.As traffic increased between towns, a need for these main streets to become connected grew. On Nov. 11, 1926, U.S. Highway 66 was officially established and still serves as one of the most famous highways in America. Also called “America’s Main Street,” the 2,400-mile highway extending from Chicago to Los Angeles quickly became the principal route of travel from the Midwest to the Pacific Coast, carrying thousands of people each year to the booming West, particularly Southern California.
