The Rise and Fall of Route 66 (Why America's Greatest Road Fell into Oblivion)

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U.S. Route 66, also known as the Will Rogers Highway, was one of the original highways constructed by the U.S. Highway System in 1926. Route 66 is over 90 years old and definitely, a road less traveled. There are plenty of weird attractions to be seen along this iconic road that starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles. While much of Route 66 has disappeared following its decommissioning as a major American highway in 1985, there remains plenty of evidence to be seen and cherished by historical and pop-cultural lovers. Large chunks of Route 66-related memorabilia have been preserved at the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum.

Chapters:
00:00 Why Route 66 starts in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles
00:43 Before Route 66 pioneers traveled dirt roads
01:35 Railroads eventually were built alongside the dusty trails
02:09 The boom of the automobile
03:29 The nation’s first all-weather highway
04:59 Cyrus Avery is credited with creating Route 66
06:55 Why Route 66 was almost named Route 60
08:03 Route 66 Gas stations, motels, and other facilities
11:56 John Steinbeck wrote frequently about Route 66
12:11 Terrible effects of the Dust Bowl
13:30 The best sights along Route 66
16:06 Route 66 presence in American Cinema
16:59 Route 66 decommissioned as a major American highway

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IT’S HISTORY - Weekly tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

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» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Camrin Dekis,
Editor - Kamil Krawiec
Host - Ryan Socash
Sponsor - Bespoke Post

» SOURCES
Thumbnail (right “Now” component” credited to Runtdog II / Route 66 Hazelgreen Bridge / CC BY-NC 2.0 / Original work https://flic.kr/p/p99j1v

“Route 66.” National Museum of American History, 15 Apr. 2019, https://americanhistory.si.edu/america-on-the-move/route-66#:~:text=Route%2066%20was%20commissioned%20in,trucking%20route%20through%20the%20Southwest.
“History.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, https://ncptt.nps.gov/rt66/history-and-significance-of-us-route-66/.
“Route 66.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Route-66.
Nix, Elizabeth. “8 Things You May Not Know about Route 66.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 July 2016, https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-route-66.
“Route 66 History.” National Historic Route 66 Federation, https://national66.org/pages/route-66-history.
Whittall, Austin, et al. “Home.” History of Route 66, https://www.theroute-66.com/history.html.
“Route 66. America's Main Street.” Arizona Vacation Guide, https://www.arizona-leisure.com/route-66-history.html.
“You Can Still Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” The Getaway, 24 Sept. 2021, https://thegetaway.com/experiences/you-can-still-get-your-kicks-on-route-66/10/.
Test, Andi. “Route 66 and Its Place in Pop Culture: Gold Eagle Co.” Gold Eagle, 21 Aug. 2019, https://www.goldeagle.com/tips-tools/route-66-and-its-place-in-pop-culture/

» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.