Route 66 changed immensely in the six decades between its opening in 1926 and its removal from the U.S. highway system in 1985. Since that time, Route 66 has enjoyed a renaissance, and interest in America’s Mother Road as both a historical byway and a travel destination continues to grow.
Jim Hinckley’s book explores the road’s history from its inception into the present day. It is highlighted by specially commissioned fold-out maps for each state along the highway. The maps include points of interest along or near Route 66, divided into seven categories:
- Pre-1926 historic sites (such as Lincoln’s home and presidential library)
- Noteworthy landmarks, including the locations of infamous crimes and disasters;
- Parks of interest along or near Route 66
- Key sites in Route 66’s evolution (such as Hooker’s Cut, Missouri, an engineering marvel when completed)
- Military-specific sites (including Civil War battlefields and POW and internment camps)
- Historic attractions from the road’s midcentury heyday (such as Little Beaver Town and Geronimo’s Trading Post) including crime, disaster and film-related sites
- Locations important to Route 66’s transition and modern resurgence.
If you’re a Route 66 fan, this is a book likely worth checking out. Head over to Barnes and Noble or Amazon to check it out!