Cyrus Avery was a successful businessman from Oklahoma that wanted to improve road conditions in his state. Avery, is now known to many as the father of Route 66. He was successful in his bid to have the new route pass through his home state. This route was designated U.S. Highway 66. On November 11, 1926 Route 66 was born. It followed the old trails laid out by the early explorers and railroads. Route 66 became the twentieth century version of the Oregon Trail, the golden road to the promised land and has inspired our spirit ever since. John Steinbeck called it the Mother Road. The 2,400-mile route winds from Jackson Boulevard and Michigan Avenue in Chicago to Los Angeles, through the most romantic and celebrated portions of the American West. Route 66 was a lifeline through much of America, connecting the small midwestern towns of Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, with the big cities of Los Angeles and Chicago.
I still remember my family's trip in 1953 to the Meramec Caverns when I was a youngster (in diapers of course LOL). In 1964 I drove this historic highway from Los Angeles to Joplin, Missouri.
Now that I am living in Tulsa, I have decided to document this wonderful piece of Americana via a photo gallery. This gallery is a continuing project. Enjoy.
Chuck congratulations on a great choice of theme and a wonderful opening gallery set. This could be a real epic and I too look forward to its unfurling the local communities and all.
Good luck and please keep us abreast of progress. I dont know the geography at all well so Id best get a map.