The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Route 66 one of America’s Most Endangered Historic Places.
End of the Road Ahead?
The non-profit is lobbying to have the 2,400-mile-long network of existing roads that make up the route of decommissioned highway system named the 20th National Historic Trail in the U.S., which would open up new avenues of federal funding for the promotion and upkeep for it and the sites that border it.
Legislation that would give the so-called “Mother Road” this designation is currently pending but needs to be acted upon by the U.S. Senate and president before it expires this year. The trust has partnered with the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership to launch a petition urging its passage.
“Route 66 has fueled America’s imagination, popular culture, and passion for the open road for nearly a century,”
National Trust for Historic Preservation President and CEO Stephanie Meeks
“It deserves a place not just in our rearview mirror, but on our roadmap of unique travel experiences for generations to come.”
The route is currently funded in part through the work of dedicated associations in each of the eight states that it passes through, along with some matching grants from the National Park Service.
The 100th anniversary of its opening will be marked in 2026.
Take a Ride on Route 66 from Chicago to LA in a 3 Minute Timelapse
This Timelapse / Drivelapse Route 66 video shows a road trip down the entire length of Route 66 (The Mother Road) from Chicago to Los Angeles in August 2012. When given an option for which time era of the road to travel, we picked the oldest parts of Route 66 (pre-1937, pre-1928 etc)…