Originally called Highway 4, Route 66 was one of the first roads in the nation’s numbered highway system. It stretched all the way from Illinois to California and facilitated migration west during the 1930s. Later, it became a part of American pop culture, referenced in songs, movies, and TV shows, and dubbed the Mother Road by John Steinbeck. It was eventually removed from the highway system in 1985, prompting Americans to turn portions of the decommissioned route into a historical byway.
The collection includes travel guides, flyers, advertisements, recollections, correspondence, postcards, and maps.