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Route 66

Despite being decommissioned from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, Route 66 still tugs on our imagination as a symbol of escape and a reminder of the lively roadside towns that once lined the route's 2,448 mile stretch. Explore quirky pit stops and discover untold histories from ancient Native American trade routes to the legacies of women who overcame gender discrimination and segregation to build fulfilling lives on the "mother road."

Candacy Taylor
Preview
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Route 66 Women: The Untold Story of the Mother Road

Route 66 Women: The Untold Story of the Mother Road (Preview)

Four young women are tucked inside a car.
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Route 66 Women: The Untold Story of the Mother Road

The Women Who Bucked Gender Roles Along Route 66

An illustration of some eye-catching signs on Route 66 establishments, which include those Formosa Cafe, Globe Theater and China Cafe.
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SoCal Wanderer

Five Lesser-Known Roadside Attractions Along Route 66

Sights & Stops Along Route 66

An illustration of Peggy Sue’s "Diner-Saur" Park.
SoCal Wanderer
Five SoCal Road Trip Pit Stops That Will Rival Your Destination
Arrowhead Springs festival
Artbound
A Native American Site Turned Hollywood Glamour-Era Playground... And Back.
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Why Joshua Trees Look The Way They Do
Above: The entrance to the El Pakiva Cavern at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area. | Photo: Kim Stringfellow
Artbound
Ida and Jack Mitchell: Guardians of the Providence Mountains
1950s McDonalds
The Real McDonald’s: The San Bernardino Origins of a Fast Food Empire
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SoCal Wanderer
11 Places You Have To See In The California Desert
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SoCal Wanderer
Where to Find the Mojave's Greatest Ghost Towns
mesquite sand dunes
SoCal Wanderer
Five Dunes That Will Make You Forget You’re in Southern California

Latest on Route 66

An illustration of some eye-catching signs on Route 66 establishments, which include those Formosa Cafe, Globe Theater and China Cafe.
Five Lesser-Known Roadside Attractions Along Route 66
There’s a lot more to do on Route 66 in southern California than you might expect.
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Reading Route 66: The Literary Road from Chicago to Los Angeles
Writers and poets from Chicago and Los Angeles are connected by more than just Route 66.
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Route 66: The Road and the Romance
Whether depicted in pop culture, classic movies, or a Jack Kerouac novel, Route 66 has captivated the attention of dozens of travelers, writers, and history buffs since its founding in 1926.
Fred Harvey Indian Tours | Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
Re-imagining Route 66: New Stories for an Old Landscape
Route 66 has been mythologized in popular culture since it was established as a national highway in 1926. Two new projects re-contextualize the road for the 21st century.
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Route 66 Mural is a Sign of the Open Highway
A new mural on Route 66 is a large-scale -- yet modest -- monument to the myth of America's open road.
Relief map inside the Historic Route 66 museum. | Photo: Douglas McCulloh
Route 66 and San Bernardino Motor On, Despite Bankruptcy
San Bernardino's making national headlines because elected officials have filed for bankruptcy, but a lot of people said what really outraged them: The city council said it couldn't host the Route 66 Rendezvous downtown.
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California's Outback Highway: 2 Lanes, 200 Miles, 3 National Parks
The most direct route between Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks offers a glimpse of desert history.
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