1

History

Image: Christian Linnemann

Let’s start from the very beginning: in 1926, almost 100 years ago, Route 66 was established, covering a total of 2,448 miles. It was one of the original highways built under the then-new Numbered Highway System (also known as the "Federal Highways").

The route famously started in Chicago, Illinois, and stretched all the way to Santa Monica, California, passing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. At the time, Route 66 proved to be a quick and easy way to get to the western part of the country, which logically led to an increase in its popularity.

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Landmarks

Image: Mick Haupt

If you find yourself driving along the 2,448 miles that make up Route 66, you’ll certainly come across a fair share of outstanding landmarks, including American icons like the St. Louis Gateway Arch or the Santa Monica Pier. Not only that, you might want to explore some natural wonders, such as a 50,000-year-old meteor crater located in the heart of Arizona.

However, if you're more interested in landmarks focused on unusual or outlandish topics, there are plenty of roadside attractions worth visiting . For instance, you might want to stop for a few hours in San Bernardino, California, to visit the original McDonald’s location, now turned into a museum.

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One end of the road…

Image: Arnaud STECKLE

As we mentioned before, Route 66 is too long for us to include every single state it crosses in this article. However, we still felt the need to pay a small tribute to the two ends that "America’s Main Street" was built to connect. With that in mind, let’s start with Chicago, the easternmost point of Route 66.

Originally, Route 66 was commissioned as a quicker way to get from Chicago to Los Angeles in response to the large increase in car ownership that occurred in the 1920s. Route 66 shortened the distance between these two cities by 200 miles, providing an easy-to-follow route for millions of Americans.

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…followed by the other end.

Image: Rocio Abrego

According to a popular saying, "All good things must come to an end," and the gorgeous west end of Route 66 is a living testament to this phrase. The "City of Angels" truly doesn’t need an introduction. In that sense, can you think of a more welcoming image than the warm California sun greeting drivers at the final stop of Route 66?

Interestingly, nowadays Route 66 ends in the equally gorgeous city of Santa Monica, located in Los Angeles County. In any case, the way the U.S. Route 66 Highway Association described the highway during its construction still holds true, and Route 66 can still be described as the "most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles ."

5

The "Father of Route 66"

Image: John Benitez

Nowadays, a route connecting Illinois and California seems almost logical, but at the time, it took the efforts of a visionary group of entrepreneurs to plan the construction of Route 66. Among them, one individual stands out, known to history as " The Father of Route 66 ": an Oklahoma businessman named Cyrus Avery.

A resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Avery was truly a jack of all trades. Originally a school teacher, he went on to become a businessman, an insurance agent, and an oilman after founding the Avery Oil & Gas Company in 1904. In the 1920s, Avery was a member of the federal board appointed to create the Federal Highway System, where he rallied for the establishment of what we now know as Route 66.

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Feel like walking?

Image: Capstone Events

Who said that only cars can enjoy Route 66? Certainly not Charles C. Pyle, a Route 66 Association member who, in 1928, launched an innovative campaign to promote the new highway: a foot race from Los Angeles to New York City.

With a distance of 3,400 miles, this gargantuan race had a suitably large prize: $25,000, which today would be just under $400,000. Nearly 300 racers crossed America, passing through Route 66 and several checkpoints along the highway. Ultimately, the race was won by a Cherokee citizen named Andy Payne, who finished the race in 573 hours.

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Culture inspired by Route 66

Image: Jonathan Gong

It seems only logical that such an iconic route has inspired a plethora of songs, books, and paintings. Let’s take a moment to pay homage to some masterworks of American culture that celebrate everything Route 66 has to offer. Celebrated authors like John Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac have set their novels on the highway, with Steinbeck nicknaming Route 66 "the Mother Road."

Perhaps most famously, songwriter Bobby Troup wrote the song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" while traveling on the highway on a road trip across America. The song became a smash hit in 1946 after it was recorded by the Nat King Cole Trio, and it was subsequently covered by music legends like The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, and Bing Crosby.

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Decommission

Image: Alejandro Luengo

In the 1950s, President Eisenhower sought to upgrade America’s highway system into a more modern network, comprising several new routes that connected all 50 states. In 1956, Eisenhower signed the Federal Interstate Act, unknowingly initiating a series of steps that would eventually lead to the end of Route 66 .

After several decades, Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t travel through most of it. Nearly 85% of the original highway is still drivable, with many signs marking where the original route once stood.

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Route 66 State Park

Image: Federico Lancellotti

As we mentioned before, there are plenty of spectacular landscapes to explore along Route 66 if you’re a fan of nature. With that in mind, did you know there’s a state park in Missouri named after Route 66?

Route 66 State Park is located at the site of the former town of Times Beach, Missouri, along the Meramec River. In addition to offering beautiful views and hiking trails, visitors might also enjoy seeing the old Route 66 bridge, which is currently undergoing restoration.

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The music of the road

Image: Miguel Alcântara

We’ll end this article with a Route 66 fact you might not know. Route 66 has inspired many iconic songs, but did you know that a small part of Route 66 actually plays music on its own?

To encourage drivers to stick to the 45-mile-per-hour speed limit, the New Mexico Department of Transportation came up with a rather ingenious idea: by placing rumble strips at strategic points, cars driving under the speed limit will play " America the Beautiful "!

1

Frying Pan Road

Image: Ashwini Chaudhary(Monty)

As we discuss our first entry on the list, we must prepare you for the incoming spoonful of roads and streets named after various things, starting with the namesake one. There is a suburb in Hendon, Virginia with a community named Fryin Pan that dates back to at least the 1700s. However, in the 1890s, they changed the name to Floris. The original name has remained as a road.

2

Chicken Dinner Road

Image: Karyna Panchenko

Believe it or not, there is a road in Idaho called Chicken Dinner. According to the main story, the origin of the name lies with a resident who lobbied the governor to improve the road outside her house. Laura Lamb was known for her chicken, and when a couple of vandals painted the words "Lamb's Chicken Dinner Avenue" on the freshly oiled road, they inadvertently christened the street with the name that is known today.

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Bad Route Road

Image: Markus Spiske

While the name doesn’t sound very enticing, a trip down this residential Montana street may not be as bad an idea as it sounds. This street possibly received its unfortunate name from Bad Route Creek, an offshoot of the Yellowstone River. The creek's name itself may have originated from the difficult conditions and the challenges faced by early explorers and settlers in the region.

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Psycho Path

Image: Jorge Salvador

It was voted as the nation’s wackiest street name, and for good reason. Psycho Path is a small private road in Traverse City, Michigan . Owners of private roads can register whatever name they choose with the local authorities. We prefer to think that the owner of this road is not a particularly dangerous person but rather someone with a sense of humor.

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Alcohol Mary Road

Image: Timothé Durand

A memorable street named, indeed—Alcohol Mary Road in Greenwood, Maine, is named after a local woman who was known for producing alcohol during the Prohibition years. To the residents, it symbolizes the town's spirit of independence.

The Hertell family, who lives on the road and has a family matriarch named Mary, has grown tired of fielding questions about whether their beloved grandmother was an outlaw.

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Zzyzx Road

Image: Diego Jimenez

Sounds like "Six Six," but it’s not spelled in the same way. Not only is there a town in Southern California named Zzyzx, but there is also a street that leads to the town.

According to the story, Curtis Howe Springer created the name Zzyzx and gave it to the area in 1944, claiming it to be the last word in the English language.

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Five Forks Trickum Road

Image: Prayag Tejwani

There is a road in Gwinnett County, Georgia , named Five Forks Trickum Road, which has only four forks. The reason for this is simple: in decades past, it once had a five-fork intersection.

As for the "Trickum" part, local lore suggests that this comes from a shop owner who once lived there, and often swindled customers out of their money.

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Liquid Laughter Lane

Image: Surface

A poetic image if we ever heard one, Liquid Laughter Lane is a real street in Columbia, Maryland . When the local community was planned, names for the streets were needed and the team in charge of coming up with these names resorted to statistics, demographics, and geographical locations, among common elements. But they also took inspiration from things like literature and poetry, which helped them come up with beautiful names like Liquid Laughter Lane.

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Pig’s Eye Lake Road

Image: Fabian Blank

Pig’s Eye Lake Road is a nod to an actual person named Pierre "Pig’s Eye" Parrent (nicknamed as such because he had only one eye), who played an important role in the history of St. Paul and Minnesota . He established a tavern that served as a meeting place for traders and settlers, making it a focal point in the community.

Today, Pig's Eye Lake Road continues to serve as a reminder of the area's history and the colorful characters who contributed to its development.

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Ninth and a Half Street

Image: Nick Hillier

Since the second part of an address is typically a number, it is advisable to name the first part with a word rather than another number; however, there are exceptions. Ninth and a Half Street runs along the north-south boundary between what used to be Old Nebraska City and South Nebraska City (which now make up Nebraska City).

If you are wondering where this name came from, it has to do with the fact that the city was formed from three preexisting cities, and when they went to rename the streets of the newly formed city, the numbers didn’t quite line up.

1

Colonel Sanders

Image: Aleks Dorohovich

Colonel Sanders, the iconic KFC mascot, is based on Harland Sanders, the chain's founder . He received the honorary title of "Colonel" from Kentucky's governor in 1935.

Sanders embraced the persona, adopting a white suit, goatee, and bow tie, creating the famous image that still represents KFC today.

2

Energizer bunny

Image: Jerry Wang

The Energizer Bunny debuted in 1988 as a parody of Duracell’s "Drumming Bunny." Designed with sunglasses, flip-flops, and a bigger drum, it stood out as a bold contrast to its competitor’s mascot.

The campaign grew into a long-running success, and, obviously, a trademark battle followed, ultimately ending with Energizer securing exclusive rights to the pink bunny in the U.S. and Canada.

3

GEICO gecko

Image: Hunter Masters

The GEICO Gecko debuted in 1999 during an actors' strike, when live talent was unavailable. The idea stemmed from people mispronouncing "GEICO" as "Gecko," inspiring a quick lizard doodle during a brainstorming session.

In his first ad, the Gecko held a press conference asking people to stop confusing him with the company. The quirky concept quickly became a memorable and enduring mascot.

4

Jolly Green Giant

Image: Jun Weng

The Jolly Green Giant began in 1925 with the Minnesota Valley Canning Company’s "Green Giant" peas. The original mascot was a stern, fairy tale–like figure.

In 1936, ad legend Leo Burnett redesigned him with a leafy toga and a friendly smile, making him "jolly." The company later adopted the Green Giant name, and the mascot became a lasting icon.

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Pillsbury Doughboy

Image: Sonia Nadales

The Pillsbury Doughboy, named Poppin' Fresh, was created in 1965 by ad copywriter Rudy Perz. The idea came to him as he imagined a dough character popping out of a can in his kitchen .

First seen in stop-motion animation, the Doughboy became a cheerful brand icon, starring in over 600 commercials since his debut.

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Chester Cheetah

Image: Erik Mclean

Chester Cheetah became the face of Cheetos in 1986, replacing the original Cheetos Mouse. He debuted as a cool, animated cartoon character in TV ads.

Known for his smooth voice, catchy rhymes, and laid-back style, the character is depicted as a "cool cat" with a strong craving for Cheetos.

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Kool-Aid Man

Image: Fotografía de Alimentos

The Kool-Aid Man, a smiling pitcher of Kool-Aid, evolved from earlier iterations and became the brand’s mascot after General Foods acquired the company in the 1950s. He quickly stood out in ads with his dramatic entrances.

Known for crashing through walls and shouting "Oh yeah!", this mascot became instantly recognizable.

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Tony the Tiger

Image: Dom .

Tony the Tiger has been the mascot for Frosted Flakes since 1952, known for his upbeat catchphrase, "They’re gr-r-reat!" and his iconic presence on cereal boxes. He has also represented other cereals, such as Tony’s Cinnamon Krunchers.

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Planters

Image: aboodi vesakaran

Mr. Peanut was created in 1916 by Antonio Gentile, a schoolboy who entered a design contest held by Planters. His original drawing featured a peanut with arms, legs, and a cane .

A commercial artist later refined the character by adding a top hat, monocle, and spats , transforming it into the classic Mr. Peanut mascot we know today.

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Mr. Clean

Image: Clay Banks

Mr. Clean was created in 1957 by an ad agency for Procter & Gamble. Originally conceived as a genie, he evolved into a muscular, bald man dressed in white, sporting an earring and folded arms. Inspired by a Navy sailor, he became a symbol of powerful cleaning.

11

Toucan Sam

Image: Zoshua Colah

Toucan Sam, the colorful blue-and-orange mascot for Froot Loops, was created in 1963. Known for his catchphrase, "Follow my nose!" and his ability to "smell" Froot Loops from afar, Sam’s voice and design have evolved over time, making him a beloved cereal icon.

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Ronald McDonald

Image: Erik Mclean

Ronald McDonald first appeared in 1963 in local TV ads in Washington, D.C., portrayed by actor Willard Scott. He was created by the Oscar Goldstein ad agency.

In 1965, McDonald's expanded Ronald’s role to national commercials with a slightly altered look. He became a key figure in McDonaldland, interacting with other characters . Over time, Ronald’s image and advertising style evolved, with updates to his outfit and overall presence.