Text: RoadRUNNER Staff • Photography: Honda
More than any other stretch of pavement, Route 66 imprinted the open road into the American psyche and helped shape the cultural fabric of the nation as the automobile came of age. The historic route can trace its origins back to 1857 when the Army Corps of Engineers began work on a wagon trail following the 35th parallel. It wasn’t until 1926, however, that the route between Chicago, IL, and Los Angeles, CA, was given the number 66. At that time, the road was largely dirt or gravel, and the U.S. Highway 66 Association was founded to lobby for paving it from end to end. This was achieved in 1938, making Route 66 the first fully-paved highway in the U.S.
Since most small towns and communities had little access to highways in the first half of the 20th century, U.S. 66 was intended to connect the main streets of towns along its route, leading to the road’s unofficial title, the Main Street of America. The Dust Bowl drought and Great Depression of the 1930s sent many farming families west in search of work, and it was Route 66 that brought them there. Their migration inspired John Steinbeck’s classic novel The Grapes of Wrath, further endearing “The Mother Road” to American hearts.
The eastern half of the highway traces across the heartland from Chicago to the route’s midpoint in Adrian, TX, just east of the Texas-New Mexico border. Major cities along the way include Springfield, IL, St. Louis, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Amarillo. The Honda Gold Wing F6B was made for adventure on the open road, and iconic Route 66 has defined that adventure for generations of Americans.
Points of Interest
- Chicago’s Grant Park—Chicago, IL
The eastern end of Route 66 rises very close to Lake Michigan at one of Chicago’s oldest parks. Grant Park is a popular leisure spot for Windy City residents with wide-open spaces, bridges, fountains, statues, and an interesting history of its own. The park is also bordered by several museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago.- Route 66 Association of Illinois - Hall of Fame and Museum—Pontiac, IL
The first stop along an east-to-west running of U.S. 66 lands in Pontiac, IL, where visitors can peruse thousands of Route 66 artifacts and memorabilia. The town’s Route 66-themed murals are a must for a memorable photo op with your F6B.- Cohokia Mounds State Historic Site – Collinsville, IL
Located just outside of St. Louis, the Cohokia Mounds are the site of an ancient Native American city. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is open to the public and consists of 80 large earthen mounds constructed by a people known as the Mississippians around the 9th century CE.- Meramec Caverns—Stanton, MO
The one-time hideout of the infamous outlaw Jesse James, the Meramec Caverns are extensively advertised on the sides of barns and billboards along Route 66 near St. Louis. The limestone caves, which extend for 4.6 miles, were mined for saltpeter during the Civil War. These expansive underground structures are open daily for tours.- Kansas Route 66 Historic District—Galena, KS
During its brief stay in Kansas, Route 66 passes through the old mining town of Galena. In its heyday, the town was a thriving center of local trade, railroad traffic, and of course, a stopping point for travelers on the Mother Road. Today, much of the old downtown still remains, along with a museum showcasing the past.- Rock Cafe—Stroud, OK
The Rock Cafe gets its name from the unique sandstone exterior that resembles a giraffe’s pattern. The cafe opened its doors in 1939 and was open 24 hours in the golden years of Route 66. During the war, busloads of hungry soldiers ate here. Today, the Rock Cafe keeps more normal business hours, but one can still grab a bite!- Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe—Shamrock, TX
This art-deco architectural marvel was also the first business on Route 66 as it passes through Shamrock, TX. The building was originally built in 1936 to house a Conoco gas station and restaurant (the U-Drop Inn Cafe), but it is now home to the town’s chamber of commerce and a visitor center.
