Route 66, the
"Main Street of America", was commissioned
November 11, 1926. It rolled and weaved through eight
states, from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California,
a ribbon of pavement 2,400 miles long. the
"Mother Road" raced through ten counties in
Missouri, a 300 mile span. In Missouri, the road was
often referred to as "Bloody 66".
Originally a
graveled state road, 66 follows an ancient ridge that was
trod by migrating mastodon. Indians traveled the trail
in search of game. Before the Civil War, white
settlers knew the route as the St. Louis to Springfield
Road. Strategically important during the Civil War for
moving men and material, it became a communication nerve
center when a telegraph line was strung along its
length. It was then locally known as the Wire Road
until its designation as U.S. 66. Americans heeding
the call of the open road spawned business enterprises along
the road; handmade Ozark basket shops, tourist courts (the
first motels), and the hillbilly store. The romance of
the road and charm of the small towns the "main
street" bisected can still be felt and seen in
preserved sections of this internationally famous highway in
Pulaski County. Get your kicks on our 66.
"The former
handicap of inadequate transportation facilities has been
swept aside by the building of the nationally known highway
system. The trackless expanse of the Ozarks has been
pierced by a network of beautiful highways, which not only
afford comfort and safety to the traveler, but spread before
the eye a glorious panorama, whose grandeur is unrivalled in
America. From all reports, the whole country is Ozarks
bound this summer."
From Pulaski
County Tourist Map, ca 1930
CLICK
HERE to download our Historic Route 66 Auto Tour Guide.
CLICK HERE to download our Historic Waynesville Walking
Tour brochure.
CLICK HERE to download our Historic Waynesville Walking
Tour (Google Maps)
For
Route 66 Memorabilia / Souvenirs - CLICK
HERE
Proud Member of Route 66 Association of Missouri
