US Route 66 was one of the original numbered highways in the country, which were established in 1926. Running from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 followed various pre-existing routes. Known as the Mother Road, the alignment changed at times. During the Dust Bowl, many farming families from Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas used the route to find agricultural jobs in California. Traffic gave rise to mom-and-pop businesses, such as gas stations, motels, and restaurants in the small communities along the highway. In the beginning, there were dirt and gravel roadways, and it wasn't until 1938 when Route 66 became the first to be completely paved. During World War II, people again were moving west for war-related jobs, but after the war, vacationers took to the road. All kinds of roadside attractions were developed, along with fast food restaurants. The decline of Route 66 came with the 1956 Interstate Highway Act. Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in Route 66, and some investment has been made to restore sights that did not survive the neglect after the late 1950s. Other places did survive and continue to offer services today.
Coming from Arkansas, we did not start at the beginning (Chicago), but picked up Route 66 in Joplin, MO. The highway covered 292 miles/470 km in the state of Missouri.
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| Grand Falls, known as the largest continuously flowing natural waterfall in Missouri, drops 12 feet down a 163-foot wide ledge of Mississippi chert; however, now there is a dam (1890-1891) across Shoal Creek creating a reservoir to supply water to Joplin residents |
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| Volk's Avanti Insurance Company advertises with a Vokswagen Beetle "crashed" into a fire hydrant, with water spouting up from the ground (a Roadside America attraction) |
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| Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin, MO with two murals; this is Cruisin' into Joplin featuring a vintage Buick |
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| The American Ribbon traces the route through eight states, with a mock 1964 red Chevrolet Corvette; both murals are by Chris Auckerman and Jon White (KSS) |
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| 1923 viaduct over the railroad brings us to Galena, KS; Route 66 covered only 13 miles/21 km in Kansas |
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| Luigi's Pit Stop has a replica Luigi, who was an Italian 1959 Fiat 500 in the animated Disney-Pixar movie Cars (2006, by John Lasseter, who was inspired by sites along Route 66) |
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| Betty Boop Mural (KSS) |
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| Replica of the Sheriff, a black and white 1949 Mercury police cruiser, who is the mayor of Radiator Springs in the movie Cars |
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| Also at Luigi's Pit Stop is the Ghost Bike, a tribute to all the bicyclists hit by a vehicle when traveling Route 66 |
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| Each state is recognized in the signage along the Historic Route 66 |
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| Cars on the Route is located at the Kan-O-Tex Service Station (c 1934) in Galena, KS (a Roadside America attraction) |
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| Here gas is 29-9/10 cents per gallon! |
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| Vehicles representing characters in the Cars movie, from the left: Red was a 1950s Torchy Truck Company fire truck (not a Howe!), Tow Mater was a 1955-1957 Chevrolet Task Force tow truck, and third vehicle is Tow Tater, a 1951 International Harvester boom tow truck said to have inspired the character of Tow Mater |
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| This is confusing! This Tow Tater inspired Tow Mater?! |
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| Another name for Route 66 is the Will Rogers Highway, so called because he traveled the cattle trail route from his home in Oologah to Willie Halsell College near Vinita, OK in 1892-1895, before it became Route 66 in 1926 |
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| Uh-oh, Tamiko is caught in the Galena City Jail (KSS) |
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| Texaco Gas Station (1939) with Doc Hudson, a 1951 Hudson Hornet who was the auto mechanic in Cars |
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| The Texaco Gas Station had a US flag made from license plates |
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| Greetings from Galena Mural (by Chris Auckerman and Jon White) |
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| Katy Railroad Depot (c 1900) of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Line, houses the Galena Mining & Historical Museum |
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| Nelson's Old Riverton Store (1925) in Riverton, KS |
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| Nnelson's Old Riverton Store has its original tin ceiling |
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| Also in Riverton was the Kansas Route 66 sign (2018, by Riverton High School students) made with wheel rims (a Roadside America attraction) |
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| Rainbow Bridge or Brush Creek Bridge (1923) is a single span concrete Marsh arch bridge (a Roadside America attraction) (KSS) |
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| Baxter Springs Visitor Center in a Phillips 66 gas station (1930, for Independent Oil & Gas Company) (a Roadside America attraction) |
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| Stone relief carving (1995, by Paula Collins) on American Bank (1976-1977) in Baxter Springs includes a Route 66 sign under the train |
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| Ritz Theatre (1868, 1926 converted to a theater) (KSS) |
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