jjares reviewed U.S. Route 66: The History of America?s Most Famous Highway on + 3264 more book reviews
The first few pages of this book serve to remind us that our good roads are a fairly recent addition to America's landscape. It was surprising to see that most states had a 'good roads' commission of some sort. It blew me away to hear that neighbors helped neighbors maintain the regular roads in their areas. I cannot imagine such a scene today.
Route 66 has several other names, such as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America, or just the Mother Road. The road, while being used was about 2500 miles long. Before reading this, I didn't know roads could be decommissioned. But that is what happened in June 1985. Now, parts of the highway are still functional but the whole route no longer exists.
I was really disappointed by this book because it did not give the length of the route in its heyday or some of the other facts I found out about by googling the subject. As this book indicates, there are business and civic movements that have saved portions of the route. My husband and I drove through New Mexico a few years ago and were amazed to see how Route 66 has maintained its place in the state's psyche. There were signs and businesses everywhere, trumpeting their association with the history of Route 66.
The most shocking thing in this book is the lack of a map showing the line Route 66 followed through several states. Â
Route 66 has several other names, such as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America, or just the Mother Road. The road, while being used was about 2500 miles long. Before reading this, I didn't know roads could be decommissioned. But that is what happened in June 1985. Now, parts of the highway are still functional but the whole route no longer exists.
I was really disappointed by this book because it did not give the length of the route in its heyday or some of the other facts I found out about by googling the subject. As this book indicates, there are business and civic movements that have saved portions of the route. My husband and I drove through New Mexico a few years ago and were amazed to see how Route 66 has maintained its place in the state's psyche. There were signs and businesses everywhere, trumpeting their association with the history of Route 66.
The most shocking thing in this book is the lack of a map showing the line Route 66 followed through several states. Â
