The legendary Route 66, often celebrated as “The Main Street of America,” stands as an enduring symbol of American adventure and ingenuity. This comprehensive Route 66 timeline chronicles the remarkable journey of the iconic highway, from its ambitious conception to its indelible mark on the nation’s culture and economy. Spanning over 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, this historic artery witnessed the growth of a nation, facilitating migration, commerce, and the burgeoning American road trip culture.
The Genesis of an Icon: Early Vision and Formal Commissioning (1920-1929)
The Visionary and the Network (1920-1925)
In the early 1920s, Cyrus Avery, a dynamic highway commissioner from Tulsa, Oklahoma, spearheaded a monumental effort to connect Chicago, Illinois, with Los Angeles, California, passing directly through his hometown. Avery envisioned a cohesive network of roads that would serve as a vital east-west artery for the burgeoning automotive age. By 1925, Avery, alongside an appointed committee, had dedicated considerable time to meticulously stitching together hundreds of pre-existing, often disparate, roads into what would become a unified national system.
The Official Designation and Early Growth (1926-1927)
A pivotal moment arrived on November 11, 1926, when Route 66 was officially commissioned, spanning an impressive 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. This designation cemented its status as one of America’s principal east-west thoroughfares. Despite its grand commissioning, only about 800 miles of the route were paved by the end of that year, signaling the immense undertaking ahead. The late 1920s saw the emergence of iconic roadside businesses that would define the highway experience. In 1926, Soulsby’s Station opened its doors in Mt. Olive, Illinois, along with the Old Log Cabin Restaurant in Pontiac, Illinois, catering to early travelers. The year 1927 was equally significant as the National Highway System formally took shape, and the U.S. 66 Highway Association was founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma, giving birth to the road’s affectionate and lasting nickname, “The Main Street of America.” This period also saw Phillips 66 gasoline adopting the highway’s numerical designation and logo, establishing a strong brand identity as new gas stations proliferated along the route. Route 66 signs began to be posted across Illinois, guiding motorists. On September 19, 1927, the Kimo Theatre, a beloved landmark, opened on Route 66 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Expansion and Early Legends (1928-1929)
By 1928, the Riviera Roadhouse in Gardner, Illinois, and Dixie’s Trucker’s Home in McLean, Illinois, had become popular stops. A significant engineering challenge was overcome as the last piece of Route 66 through Missouri, between Rolla and Lebanon, was completed, marking a challenging section in the “Show-Me State.” March 4, 1928, witnessed the start of the “First Annual International -Trans-Continental Foot Race,” colloquially known as the “Bunion Derby.” This epic race traversed the entire length of Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago, continuing to New York. Andy Payne, a 20-year-old from Claremore, Oklahoma, emerged victorious, covering 3,422.3 miles in 84 days and earning a $25,000 prize. By 1929, paving efforts had progressed significantly in some states; Illinois boasted 7,500 miles of paved roads, including its portion of U.S. Highway 66, Kansas was fully concreted, and Missouri was 66% paved. However, the western stretch through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California’s desert regions remained largely unpaved, with only 64.1 miles surfaced. This era also coincided with the rise of Al Capone in Cicero, Illinois, a suburb that Route 66 traversed, adding a darker historical note to the highway’s early days. New culinary institutions like Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Old Mill Restaurant (originally the Blue Mill) in Lincoln, Illinois, became Route 66 staples. The Ariston Café in Litchfield, Illinois, also opened its doors on the highway. On July 29, 1929, the magnificent Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis, Missouri, a marvel of engineering costing $2.5 million and taking 2.5 years to build, opened to traffic, though it would close decades later in 1968.
The Road Takes Shape: Depression-Era Completion and Cultural Impact (1930-1941)
Progress and Economic Revival (1930-1934)
The 1930s ushered in a period of significant development for U.S. Highway 66. By 1930, the area near Rosati, Missouri, along the route, thrived with over 250,000 grapevines, reflecting local economic activity. A landmark achievement occurred on January 5, 1931, when Missouri became the third state, after Illinois and Kansas, to fully pave its portion of Route 66. The completion of the last original mile in Phelps County, just east of the Pulaski County line near Arlington, was celebrated by the work crew tossing coins into the wet cement. Roadside businesses continued to emerge, including the Odell Standard Oil Station in Odell, Illinois, established in 1932 (now a museum), and Carr Phillips 66 Service Station in Cuba, Missouri. The Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri, opened in 1933. Before 1933, highway improvement responsibilities largely rested with individual states, with initial paving costs estimated at $22,000 per mile. However, the Great Depression spurred federal intervention, leading the U.S. Government to employ thousands of unemployed male youths in road gangs, accelerating the paving of Route 66’s remaining stretches. This era also saw the establishment of the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri (1934), and the first Steak n Shake Drive-In in Normal, Illinois (February 1934), catering to the growing number of motorists.
Extensions and Literary Immortality (1935-1941)
The highway’s reach and legend continued to expand in the mid-1930s. Meramec Caverns near Stanton, Missouri, opened to tourists in 1935, its allure quickly advertised by barns and billboards along Route 66. The Route 66 Cafe (originally Belvidere Cafe) in Litchfield, Illinois, also began serving travelers. On June 17, 1935, a significant extension saw Route 66 reach its iconic western terminus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California. Interestingly, on the same date, the route was rerouted over the Chain of Rocks Bridge in north St. Louis, Missouri, further optimizing its path. Cultural establishments like the Mar Theatre in Wilmington, Illinois (1937), and the Normal Theater in Normal, Illinois (1937), provided entertainment for residents and travelers alike. The Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell, Illinois, became a legendary stop until its closure and eventual destruction by fire. The route itself underwent further modifications; on September 26, 1937, it was officially rerouted to go directly west from Santa Rosa to Albuquerque, New Mexico, significantly shortening its length and bypassing Santa Fe. By mid-1938, the entire length of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica was finally paved with the completion of the last unpaved section in Oldham County, Texas, between Adrian and Glenrio. This complete paving marked a monumental achievement. The year 1939 brought literary recognition when John Steinbeck published his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, in which he famously dubbed Route 66 “the Mother Road, the road of flight.” This powerful imagery cemented the highway’s place in the American consciousness, a status further enhanced in 1940 when Steinbeck’s classic novel was adapted into a film. New businesses like the Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis, Missouri (1940), and the famous Coral Court Motel in Marlborough, Missouri (1941), continued to cater to travelers, though the latter would, sadly, be demolished decades later.
Wartime Challenges and Post-War Renaissance (1942-1946)
The War Years and Their Impact (1942-1945)
The entry of the United States into World War II on December 8, 1941, profoundly affected Route 66. Automobile production ceased, gasoline rationing became widespread, and tires grew scarce, severely curtailing leisure travel. However, the highway gained new importance as a critical artery for military traffic, facilitating the movement of troops, supplies, and equipment across the nation. The war years also triggered another massive wave of migration, particularly to California, where burgeoning war industries offered countless jobs. Route 66 became the primary conduit for these hopeful migrants, underscoring its strategic significance despite the challenges of maintaining such a vast road network during wartime. With the end of World War II in 1945, Americans, eager to embrace a newfound leisure, began to travel extensively, a pastime largely unfamiliar to them before the war. The Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge, Missouri, opened its doors, ready to welcome this new wave of tourists.
A Guidebook and a Song (1946)
The post-war enthusiasm for road travel further solidified Route 66‘s legendary status. In 1946, Jack D. Rittenhouse self-published “A Guide Book to Highway 66,” selling it directly to motorists at truck stops, motor courts, and cafes along the route. This invaluable guide meticulously listed every community, attraction, lodging option, and service from Chicago to Los Angeles, becoming an essential companion for travelers. That same year, Robert “Bobby” William Troup, Jr., a former pianist and Marine captain, penned a lyrical road map of the famous cross-country road. His iconic song, “Get your kicks on Route 66,” became an instant catchphrase, immortalizing the highway in popular culture and encouraging countless motorists to embark on their own journeys between Chicago and the Pacific Coast. Nat King Cole’s famous recording of the song, released in 1946, further propelled Route 66 into the hearts and minds of Americans, marking a new era of recreational travel and cementing its place as an American icon.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Route 66
From its initial vision as a practical conduit for trade and travel to its transformation into “The Mother Road” and a symbol of freedom and adventure, Route 66 has played an unparalleled role in shaping the American landscape and psyche. Its timeline is a testament to innovation, resilience, and the relentless spirit of exploration. Though officially decommissioned, its spirit lives on in the preserved stretches, nostalgic diners, and the countless stories of those who traversed its legendary path. The enduring appeal of Route 66 continues to draw travelers from around the world, eager to experience a piece of authentic Americana and “get their kicks” on this historic highway.
