Do you know ROUTE 66 is the world's most Famous Highway?
As a boy, I remember my family leaving Indianapolis, IN, heading to Los Angeles, CA to visit friends. We got on ROUTE 66 in Mitchell, IL and passed the Luna Cafe, that is still in operation and going strong since the 1920's and is stated to have been visited by many famous gangsters, including Al Capone. We crossed the Mississippi River on the narrow Chain Of Rocks Bridge. I remember being awe struck by the 22 degree right hand turn in the bridge. I remember passing the now famous Coral Court Motel and the Chain of Rocks Amusement Park just outside St. Louis, MO, that have since been demolished. I remember passing Ted Drews Frozen Custard in the heart of St. Louis. I remember the Merimac Caverns in Stanton, MO. I remember going west on ROUTE 66 and passing in and out of Kansas (not more than 13 miles) on our way into OK. I still recall all the Mom & Pop diners, the family owned one story motels, the road side attractions, roadside picnic tables where my Mother cooked most of our meals on a Coleman 2 burner stove and how those passing would wave and blow their horns in greeting. I remember the Burma Shave signs, a huge round red barn in OK, the giant Jack Rabbit sporting a saddle and a big sign "Here It Is". I remember seeing buffalo grazing in the fields. I remember the full service filling stations where gas was 21 cents a gallon. I distinctly remember how beautiful the city of Albuquerque, NM was. I remember motels that resembled teepees or wigwams. I remember my Dad installing an ice cylinder on the passenger side window of our new 1953 Ford to provide cool air while crossing AZ. I remember the canvas water bags on the fronts of the vehicles to refill the radiators. I remember stopping in Oatman, AZ. I remember arriving in Santa Monica, I remember the Pacific Ocean. After traveling all those miles on ROUTE 66 and we never had to look for another highway the entire way because ROUTE 66 was the Highway. Santa Monica is either the end or the beginning of Route 66.
Now after all these years, I hope to revisit my boyhood memories and once again travel ROUTE 66 this year and would recommend all those interested in this part of history to not delay because the Mainstreet of America is fading fast. I am an avid Route 66 enthusiaste with hundreds of old photos and postcards.
I would enjoy hearing your comments and memories and sharing photos about Route 66. E-mail me at mainstreet66@hughes.net .
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