How well do you know Route 66?
Route 66 is America's most famous highway, a symbol of road trips and neon-lit nostalgia. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- The Blue Whale of Catoosa, a giant smiling concrete whale built in the 1970s in Oklahoma, is one of Route 66's most photographed roadside attractions.
- Cadillac Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas, features ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground. Visitors are encouraged to add their own spray paint, so the cars' colors constantly change.
- The official end of Route 66 is marked by a sign on the Santa Monica Pier in California, where road-trippers celebrate reaching the Pacific Ocean.
America's Main Street
Route 66 was one of the first highways in the new US numbered highway system of 1926. It connected small towns and big cities across the Midwest and Southwest, carrying travelers, truckers and families seeking new opportunities. Though it no longer appears on official highway maps, Route 66 remains a symbol of American freedom, adventure and the open road.
The Dust Bowl migration
In the 1930s, drought and dust storms devastated farms on the Great Plains. Thousands of families loaded their belongings into cars and traveled west on Route 66 to California in search of work. Their journeys were described in John Steinbeck's novel 'The Grapes of Wrath', which gave the road its famous nickname.
Roadside America
As car travel boomed after World War II, businesses along Route 66 competed for attention with neon signs, motels, diners and quirky attractions. Giant statues, themed motels and gas stations with unusual architecture became part of the road's charm and are now treasured by preservationists.
The rise of interstates
In the 1950s, the United States began building the Interstate Highway System, with faster, wider roads that bypassed small towns. As interstates replaced sections of Route 66, many businesses along the old road struggled or closed. The route was officially decommissioned in 1985.
Revival and nostalgia
Starting in the late 1980s, fans and local groups worked to preserve Route 66. States marked historic sections with signs, and many towns restored neon signs, diners and motels. Today travelers from around the world drive the route to experience its history, often in rented classic cars.
A road in popular culture
Route 66 has appeared in songs, television shows, films and books. The 1946 song '(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66' became a hit, and the animated film 'Cars' drew inspiration from the road's small towns. Its image continues to represent the classic American road trip.