Getting Kicks on Route 66

Officially decommissioned in 1985. old Route 66 (the "Mother Road") is no longer a single, continuous highway. However, roughly 85% of its 2,448-mile original alignment—running from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California—is still drivable today, preserved via state highways and local roads. The photos here are  courtesy of America's Photographer Gary Firstenberg, who is travelling the Mother Road as we celebrate America's 250th birthday. 

The first portion of this historic road was paved with cobblestones the day after the Colonies attained their independence in September 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Once subservience to Britain was in the rearview mirror, their eyes turned West. 

OK, that last paragraph was fiction, but Route 66 is not. Here's proof.

One of America's great highways. 

Another is Highway 61, the Blues Highway.

Sometime soon we'll take a little trip down that one as well.

Thank you, Gary.

See more by Gary Firstenberg:

www.firstinphoto.smugmug.com