Route 66

Route 66 was the first motor road to run from the American east to west, 2,500 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. It opened in 1926 and was decommissioned in 1985, at which time it had long been surpassed by interstate highways.

But the legend lives on, fuelled by songs like “Route 66”, and much of the original route still remains as local or secondary road. It’s been seized on in a big way by towns on the old route as a tourist attraction, generally with a 1950’s or 60’s theme.

Seligman, Arizona, is a good example of a small town totally given over to the image.

Cars from the 1950/60’s are a must, even rusty ones that I presume are meant to enhance the time-warp atmosphere.

All the shops sell fairly grim Route 66 souvenirs, and fairly grim fast food. We ate hotdogs here, in keeping with the era: the store and the food seemed a cut above the others.

Winslow, where our motorhome is being repaired and also where we are staying to wait for it, is also on Route 66. But it also has another even more lightweight claim to fame. There was a 1970’s hit song written about Winslow called “Standing on the Corner” by The Eagles.

We had apparently just missed the “Standing on the Corner” festival, but the corner itself is preserved for posterity, that is, for the tourist trade. Standing on the corner might put you at risk of being picked up by the cops these days.

This is where “Standing on the Corner” and “Route 66” meet, in Winslow old town centre.

Sprinkle around some 1950’s cars- these are beautifully presented, and roadworthy- and you have a real focal point for visitors.

Some of the town architecture is pleasing anyway, like this building, originally a bank, built in 1904.

There are dozens of towns like Seligman and Winslow that have successfully adopted the Route 66 marketing approach. One could be cynical and label it as superficial tackiness, but it’s all lighthearted fun and some of the towns have other features worth seeing, as we will find out from our enforced but pleasant stay in Winslow.