Photo: Reproduction
Inspiration and setting for countless movies and music the Route 66, or The Mother Road, as the Americans call it, is the most famous highway in the world. Officially inaugurated on November 11, 1926, the road was the symbol of the American Dream. It was built by the U.S. Highway Sistem company, which initially had an interstate highway system consisting of 96 freeways. Along its 2,448 miles, or 3,940 kilometers, linking Chigaco, Illinois, with Santa Monica, California, the highway runs through the states Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Route 66 was a promise to leave the country’s conservative old world and reach beautiful and sunny California. With the construction of major highways was officially deactivated in 1985. At the time the signs were removed. Of the original layout 85% still remains, where it is possible to circulate. Some sections were totally abandoned and impassable, others were destroyed. At these points it is necessary to make deviations to reach it again later. Fortunately, due to the growing interest of tourism in the region in recent years, some of these sections have been restored with original names and plaques.
The road has become an absolute symbol of freedom. Some remnants of the hopeful days of yore, such as cafes, bars and hotels, still endure and retain their original architecture and spirit, delighting thousands of tourists and adventurers of everywhere. We have selected here seven must-have stops on your travel itinerary, seven unmissable Route 66 attractions to you enjoy your road trip even more! Travel through them below:
The Route 66 begins in Chicago, Illinois, and ends in Santa Monica, California, passing through the states Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. (Photo: Reproduction/Google Maps)
1. Route 66 Museum
The Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma is an interesting stop on your travel itinerary. (Photo: Reproduction)
In this section we find the Route 66 Museum, in Clinton, Oklahoma, at I-40 at Exit 65, 2229 West Gary Boulevard, Clinton, OK 73601. The museum tour is a very interesting experience, there are several objects that tell the story of the Mother Road and its different times. There is also a shop with a large selection of souvenirs.
2. Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch
Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, Route 66, California. (Photo: Reproduction/Kārlis Dambrāns, Wikimedia Commons)
As a young man Elmer traveled a lot with his father to camp along the desert. They kept the bottles they used in the camps as souvenirs, each one had a story to tell. When Elmer’s father died he began giving his friends these bottles, but realizing that he would be without the physical memories of his father, decided to collect and store them. But not in an egocentric and accumulative way, he wanted to expose them and keep his father’s memory alive. To accommodate the sheer amount of bottles the way he wanted, Elmer bought a ranch, exactly where they were camping, at 24266 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368, EUA. He then began to build ‘trees’ from bottles, and other forgotten objects that he was collecting along the way. Thus was born the Elmer’s Bottle Tree, an unusual and original place that looks more like an art exhibition, although not seen in the eyes of its creator. Elmer keeps the place open to visitors and enjoys chatting with them. The late afternoon sunlight reflected in the numerous colored bottles creates a spectrum of rare beauty, coupled with the beautiful scenery of the endless Route 66.
3. Calico, the ghost town
Calico, a ghost town on Route 66. (Photo: Pixabay)
Between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is Calico, a perfect Old West city, located in Barstow, CA 92311, EUA. It was founded in 1881 by silver miners, at the time of the gold rush in the American West. Around 1890, when silver lost its value, the inhabitants abandoned it in search of new survival opportunities. The city was restored in 1950, and despite the architectural perfection only a few houses are entirely original, five in all, others have been rebuilt. Calico is very well preserved and welcomes visitors from all over the world.
4. Monument Valley
The Monument Valley, Arizona, offers beautiful scenery. (Photo: Pixabay)
One of the main attractions of Route 66 is Monument Valley. Although not exactly on the routeit is a practically mandatory bypass to lovers nature. Nestled in the vast Navajo Indian Reservation, of seven million-acre, on the border of four states, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the region is home to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The desert region has gigantic rock formations, reddish in color, characteristic of the sandstone by which they are constituted, which gives the place a stunning landscape. There is a single hotel within the park, the View, and another in the surrounding area just outside the entrance. Both the park and the View are run by the Navajo. Monument Valley has also become a symbol of western films, especially those of John Ford, starring actor John Wayne.
The Monument Valley in the background, Arizona, is one of the Route 66 postcards. (Photo: Reproduction)
5. The First McDonald’s
The first MacDonald’s, opened in 1940, on Route 66. (Photo: Reproduction/Pinterest)
The first MacDonald’s also appeared on Route 66. It was created by brothers Richard, ‘Dick’, and Maurice, ‘Mac’ MacDonald, and opened in 1940. It is located in San Bernardino, 1398 N. E St., San Bernardino, CA, an hour’s drive from Los Angeles. The movie The Founder tells the story of the creation of the pioneer fast food company in the world. The original building was demolished in 1971, in place was built another property, which today works as a museum. There are many souvenirs and curious objects from around the world that tell the story of MacDonald’s. The museum still conserves everything as it was at the time. The mascot, the employee uniforms, including the paper hat, the packaging, the menu, are all original. It also has a new store, with the current menu. Unfortunately, MacDonald’s does not recognize the museum as official.
6. Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe
O Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe is a Route 66 icon, open and operating since 1947. (Photo: Press Release)
Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe is an icon of Route 66. The restaurant has been operating since 1947, serving dozens of hungry travelers every day. The story is curious, and beautiful. It was originally opened by Bob and Kate Holland, under the name Holland Burger Cafe. Emma Jean worked as a waitress on site for many years. Her boyfriend Richard Gentry was a trucker, and for 31 years stopped to eat there. In 1979 Richard bought the restaurant for his then wife Emma, and renamed it Emma Emma’s Holland Burger Cafe. Emma died in 1996 and Richard in 2008. It is currently run by the couple’s son Brian Gentry and his wife Shawna. Emma Jean’s remains intact, all original, and has been the scene of countless movies, commercials and TV shows. The address is 17143 N D St, Victorville, CA 92394.
7. Bagdad Cafe
The famous cafe where the movie Bagdad Cafe was shot exists and is on Route 66. (Photo: Reproduction)
The Bagdad Cafe is there! The famous café where the homonymous movie was recorded in Brazil, originally called Out of Rosenheim, is also on Route 66, and it still works! The film directed by Percy Alon was released in 1987 and stars Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder and Jack Palance. The bar is located at 46548 National Trails Hwy, Newberry Springs, CA 92365, and remains original, as it was on filming days. It is an exciting ride for lovers of the seventh Art.
Fontes:
www.national66.org
www.historic66.com
www.illinoisroute66.org/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
www.okhistory.org/sites/route66.php
www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm
www.hollandburger.com/
