Look Inside
The History of Route 66
- According to most sources Route 66 is 2448 miles long (about 4000 km). However, this is a rough approximation as the road has had many different alignments through the years.
- Route 66 is also know as “Mother Road”, “The Main Street of America” and “The Will Rogers Highway”. 85% of the road is still drivable.
- Route 66 starts in Chicago, Illinois and ends in Santa Monica, California. The Corvette has become a Route 66 icon.
- A former Marine penned the song that helped make the highway famous. In 1946, singer Nat King Cole had a hit single with “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” written that same year by Bobby Troup.
The History
Pontiac & Route 66
Some 90 miles southeast of where Historic Route 66 began, you will find the farming town of Pontiac. Pontiac is home to some of the most famous Route 66 attractions including the Hall of Fame Museum & the Pontiac-Oakland Museum.
Route 66 defined a remarkable era in our nation’s history – and it lives on today in Illinois’ Route 66’s many roadside attractions, museums, restaurants – and the shining ribbon of blacktop we call “The Mother Road.”
A Bright Future
All Roads Point Towards Hemp
Route 66 and Pontiac are at the intersection of the transformation of the agriculture industry as it quickly moves into commercial hemp cultivation. We are witnessing the revitalization of the farming community, with Pontiac and Route 66 growing along with it.
