Rt 66 – A Trip Along the ”Mother Road”

Route Rt 66, known as the Mother Road or the Main Street of America, is one of the most famous highways ever built.

Rt 66, a 2400 mile span of highway from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California which cuts across 8 states was carved out in 1926.

At the time, “The Mother Road” as it became known, finally made it possible to travel from coast to coast by car. 

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Rt 66 – The New Highway

Entrepreneurs swiftly recognized the economic potential of the newly constructed routes across the nation.

In a short period, both innovative and traditional establishments emerged along these thoroughfares.

The tourist destinations enhanced the prominence of the highway, turning it into more than just a travel route.

It was now an extravaganza of scenic stops which, to many, was a vacation adventure in and of itself. 

Rt 66 – The 10 Most Popular Stops Along The Road 

1. Cadillac Ranch Amarillo, Texas 

Cadillac Ranch is perhaps one of the most unique sites along Rt 66. When you pull up to this attraction there will be no mistaking the reason for its name.

Along the side of the road you will see, standing on end and nose first in the ground, 10 half buried graffiti covered Cadillacs.

Visitors are encouraged to pick their favorite Cadillac and spray paint a part of the car, forever leaving their mark in this part of history. 

2. The Painted Desert Indian Hills, Arizona 

Along the highway, a visitor will suddenly come upon a section of mountains in the desert hills of Arizona.

This breathtaking landscape is made up of layers upon layers of different types of rocks in varying colors.

These colors range in tones from pink to orange, to brown to green, with hints of lavender and yellow.

It has been said that there is nothing more gorgeous than seeing this colorful landscape against the backdrop of the early morning sky at sunrise.

3. The Milk Bottle Grocery Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Now a Vietnamese cafe, this traditional brick building was once a grocery store, serving as a convenient stop for travelers.

Featuring a large milk bottle on its roof, this landmark was a welcoming sight for drivers along the Mother Road.

Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and photo opportunity.

4. St. Louis and The Gateway Arch St. Louis, Missouri 

5. Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum Pontiac, Illinois 

This museum showcases the history of Route 66 and its attractions, allowing visitors to experience life when it was America’s most significant highway.

6. Ed Galloways’s Totem Pole Park Foyil, Oklahoma 

A park of totem poles? That’s right. This visionary design of the great folk artist, Ed Galloway, was under construction from 1937-1961.

Galloway constructed the totem poles out of stone and concrete and painted them in colorful designs depicting living creatures and Native American art.

The park sits 3.5 miles off the highway. It may not come as a surprise that the park holds the record for being the home of the world’s largest totem pole! 

7. Petrified Forest Holbrook, Arizona 

The Petrified Forest National Park is the largest collection of petrified wood in the world. Some pieces of wood date back as much as 225 million years.

The forest is known for its fossils.

There are plenty of places to hike and explore in the park and even take a guided tour.

Visitors can also spend time at the Painted Desert Visitor Center and the Rainbow Forest Museum.

8. Santa Monica Pier Los Angeles, California

Coming off of Rt. 66 onto the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California, visitors can see a sign that reads, “The End of the Trail.”

This sign is placed here to mark the point at which the Mother Road comes to an end.

The Santa Monica Pier is famous for its boardwalk that spans the beach and features well-known restaurants, diners, and shops.

Perhaps the Santa Monica Pier is most famous for its amusement park with its historic carousel and enormous Ferris wheel, whose backdrop is the sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean.

9. The Blue Whale of Catoosa Catoosa, Oklahoma 

Just before visitors hit Oklahoma City they will come upon a famous roadside attraction.

In a beautiful pond surrounded by an inviting picnic area, there can be seen basking in the sun an enormous blue whale.

This adorable whale made of iron and cement is 80 feet long and 20 feet tall.

The adorable giant fish has steps leading up its huge tail and a walkway along its body and through its mouth leading into the family picnic area.

At night the whale is lit up with small blue lights. This continues to be an especially favorite stop for families with little children. 

10. The Wigwam Motel San Bernardino, California 

Traveling down the open road of America’s Main Street visitors will soon come upon a roadside motel unlike one they have ever seen before.

From their car, visitors will be able to spot a motel and Native American museum.

Surrounding the main building is the motel lodging, but it’s just not ordinary lodging.

These motel units have been modeled after teepees. The teepees are constructed out of concrete with a wood frame and a stucco exterior.

The Wigwam Motel is actually a chain and if traveling a significant distance on Route 66 visitors will actually pass two of these motels, one in Holbrook, Arizona and the other in San Bernardino, California.

The other motels in the chain are in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Kentucky. 

Route 66 – The TV Show 

Route 66 is more than just the most famous highway in America; however, it is part of America’s culture.

Given this, over the years, many movies, books, television shows, and even artwork have been influenced by the culture and history of The Mother Road.

Movies like Easy Rider and Thelma and Louise were filmed along Rt. 66. Famous novels like The Grapes of Wrath depict the historic highway in the book.

From 1960-1964, the television show Rt. 66, memorialized the highway. Throughout the episodes viewers followed the two main characters, Tod Stiles (Martin Milner) and Buz Murdock (George Maharis), as they shared exciting adventures along the well known route 66.

The tv show was so popular that there have even been whispers to this day of some studios wanting to produce a remake of the show 

More About The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California

The Wigwam Motel, established in the 1940s and located on historic Route 66, offers a unique and nostalgic experience with 15 teepee-shaped cabins featuring distinctive decor and amenities like air conditioning, cable TV, and free Wi-Fi.

Guests can enjoy facilities such as a swimming pool, restaurant, and gift shop, and the motel is conveniently situated near attractions like the San Bernardino National Forest, Zoo, and Mountains.

Route 66 Trivia

1. Route 66 was the first highway to be completely paved in the United States.
2. Rt 66 was the first highway to be designated as a national highway in 1926.
3. It was the first highway to be marked with a distinctive shield-shaped sign.
4. Route 66 was the first highway to be featured in a popular song, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66”.
5. Rt 66 was the first highway to be featured in a television show, Route 66.
6. It was the first highway to be featured in a movie, The Grapes of Wrath.
7. Route 66 was the first highway to be featured in a video game, OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast.
8. Rt 66 was the first highway to be featured in a comic book, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.
9. It was the first highway to be featured in a novel, On the Road.
10. Route 66 was the first highway to be featured in a video game, Crazy Taxi.