Where Does Route 66 Start In Chicago

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Where Does Route 66 Start In Chicago

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Route 66: Roadway To The West

Route 66, one of the first national highways for motor vehicles in the United States and one that has become iconic in American popular culture.

The system of major interstate routes—12 odd-numbered, mostly north-south and 10 even-numbered, mostly east-west—was established in a proposal developed by the American Association of State Highway Officials and accepted by the US Secretary of State. Agriculture in November 1925. The route from Chicago to Los Angeles is designated US Highway 60. Various states opposed this designation. For example, Kentucky protested that the plan did not leave this state entirely, and that based on the location of other proposed east-west roads, the logical Highway 60 would have to go through Kentucky. Kentucky later received Route 60, and the original route 60 was first changed to 62 and then to 66 in the final version of the plan, approved on November 11, 1926.

The route’s original eastern terminus in Chicago was at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard; a few years later, it was moved a few blocks east on US Route 41, better known as Lake Shore Drive. Los Angeles’ western terminus was originally at Broadway and 7th Street; It was later moved west on US Route 101 ALT (now Lincoln Boulevard at Olympic Boulevard) in Santa Monica, California. Other cities served by the route included, from east to west, Springfield, Illinois; St. Louis, Springfield and Joplin, Missouri; Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Amarillo, Texas; Tucumcari, Santa Fe (bypassed later), Albuquerque and Gallup in New Mexico; Holbrook, Flagstaff and Kingman in Arizona; and Needles, Barstow and San Bernardino in California.

While the numbered route system was a federal creation, the actual construction of roads to carry these routes was left to the individual states. Partially laid over pre-existing highways, Route 66 was thus built in segments, often discontinuous, and was not fully paved until 1938. The original route was officially commissioned to extend a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km), but once built, did not reach this figure. Over the years, a number of projects have relocated sections of the trail, usually with the effect of shortening it further. Only the 13-mile (21 km) section through Kansas remained unchanged. Eliminating the detour through Santa Fe in 1937 cut more than 100 miles (160 km) of the route. These projects reflected a deeper change in the perceived purpose of national highways: initially a means of promoting commerce along their entire length, they became staples in increasingly popular long-distance road travel. For the same purpose, Route 66 was rerouted around most major cities to avoid slower local traffic.

Historic Route 66 Begin Sign In Chicago

By the mid-1930s, Route 66 was already being called “America’s Main Street.” Early promoters, notably John Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri, and Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, envisioned a highway connecting cities across the continent, and the organizations they formed to promote the idea were effectively multistate chambers of commerce. According to the promoters’ predictions, traffic on the highway increased, its share of long distances increased, and the need for food, fuel, repairs and shelter transformed the economy of the cities through which the route passed. The development of new methods of selling to passing customers that became common in mid-twentieth-century America—ride and travel businesses, fast food, motor inns, and roadside advertising—can be traced in large part to the influence of Route 66 in those. cities. . The Great Migration of “Okies” to California, which swept the rural population of the Dust Bowl states in the 1930s, accelerated this development and also produced another name for the highway, the “Mother Road,” so named in John’s novel Steinbeck on Migration,

The explosion of automobile traffic that followed the end of World War II provided the perfect setting for a song commemorating the journey “from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles to the end.” Written by Bobby Troup and recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946 and many other artists over the years, “Route 66” invited listeners to “put your foot down” on that very road. From 1960 to 1964, the television series of the same name featured two highway-cruising adventurers in a Chevrolet Corvette sports car. At the same time, the rapid expansion of traffic meant that Route 66, even more than many other interstate routes, was carrying far more vehicles than it was designed to carry.

Increasing and denser traffic, stricter safety requirements, and improved construction methods created a demand for a new type of federal highway system. Until the moment when Pres. American. Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, several segments of Route 66 had already been replaced with newer, wider, and safer roads. The act authorized federal funding for the interstate highway system of such roads, and despite a call by the state of Missouri for all Route 66 states, there was to be no Interstate 66. Route 66 was gradually replaced by portions of several new limited-access high-speed motorways. In many places, these highways paralleled the old route or were built over its right-of-way. By 1977, the route ceased to exist in Illinois, and in October 1984, the last segment was detoured into Arizona. Route 66 was officially retired on June 27, 1985.

Casa del Desierto, the former Harvey House restaurant off Route 66 and later the site of a museum displaying Route 66 memorabilia in Barstow, California.

Route 66: Illinois #trippinwithfamily

Many private individuals, organizations and cities have preserved parts of the road, businesses that develop on it or collections of memorabilia. Among the many museums dedicated to the trail are those in Clinton, Oklahoma and Barstow, California. Start your Mother Road adventure with a photo at the Historic Begin Route 66 marker in Chicago, Illinois! Whether you’re driving the entire route or going on a shorter adventure, this is a must-see for any traveler.

Technically, the official starting point of Route 66 has moved several times since the road opened. But today, travelers can mark the beginning of their journey near the intersection of E. Adams and Michigan avenues.

The starting point of Route 66 has moved several times. The 1926 alignment was at Jackson Boulevard and Michigan Avenue near the Art Institute. This point was decided because the Federal Highway Administration mandates that freeways cannot dead-end and must instead connect to a new route. In this case, it was US 41. In 1933, the start of Route 66 moved a few blocks east to Jackson and Lake Shore Drive, closer to the World’s Fair. Then, in 1955, Jackson became a one-way street going east. Thus, Adams Street, one block north, became the new starting point of Route 66 in the west.

You will find the Begin Route 66 sign on E Street. Adams, west of where it intersects with Michigan Avenue, just in front of the Art Institute of Chicago. This section of Adams Street is one-way westbound, which is convenient for travelers on Route 66. However, this can make parking for a quick photo a little difficult.

Historic Route 66 Begin Sign In Chicago, Il

If you’re only planning to stop for a quick photo op, the late David Clark, who was known as the Windy City Warrior, shared some great tips when he was on the Route 66 podcast. The Begin Route 66 sign is next to the Consulate General of the Philippines , which has a few reserved spaces in the no-parking lane. If you’re visiting outside of consulate hours, this is a great place to stop for a few minutes. If you want even more history about where Route 66 begins, the podcast episode is a great listen!

When you turn west on Adams, the sign will be on your left on the south side of the street.

Note: If you are traveling on Route 66 from west to east, there is also an “End of Route 66” sign one block south.

Closest to the start of Route 66: The Palmer House, a Hilton hotel located just around the corner from the iconic start of the Mother Road. If you plan to explore Chicago before hitting the road, this is a popular downtown option.

The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip Guide

Best Nice Store Option: Chicago Athletic Association – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

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