The rise and fall of Route 66
This article explores the historical significance and current decline of Route 66 as it approaches its 100th anniversary. It follows a correspondent's journey through the ghost towns and surviving businesses that define this piece of American history.
Why it matters
It highlights the cultural shift in American travel and the economic impact of infrastructure changes on small-town communities.
In the 1940s and '50s, Route 66 was one of America's most popular highways, driving business to small towns from Chicago to Santa Monica. But today, the road and its people have been largely forgotten.
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