Design
The Charming, Forgotten Remains of Route 66
Shells of wigwam hotels, drive-in theaters, and hokey gift shops.
Though it's been dead for 20 years, Route 66 might be America's most famous road. The 2,500 mile throughway debuted in 1926, running from Chicago to Los Angeles. It served as a major gateway to the west before our current interstate system existed.
Its star began to fade once President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway Act in 1956. Newer, faster roads (and exit ramps) made for more efficient travel across the country. Eventually, most of the hotels, gas stations and restaurants along Route 66 went out of business. On June 27, 1985, it was officially removed from the United States Highway System.