route 66

Historic route 66 begins in Chicago and makes its way 2400 miles to the Pacific Ocean in southern California. Before the interstate system, this was a major route and is still celebrated by the towns along the way. Those include St. Louis, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, San Bernadino, Pasadena and many others including Winslow, AZ, a town made famous in the lyrics of a song by the Eagles. From its inception in 1926, U.S. Highway 66 was designed to connect rural communities to their respective metropolitan capitals. In so doing, gas stations, motels, "Mom and Pop" restaurants, and grocery stores were built to accomodate an increasingly mobile public.

We visited a little town near hear called Oatman. It was a gold mining town that is right on route 66. In 1942, the government mandated the close of the gold mines since they did not support the war effort. This put an end to Oatman as a mining town. It is maintained today much as it was in the old west complete with daily reenactments of gun fights in the street. Really, its only purpose today is as a tourist destination (more of a trap really). In any event, it's a fun place that depicts a fair amount of wild west history. As you can see from the photo, wild burros meander along the street and the hitching posts are still prevalent outside the bars and restaurants of the town.