Route 66... a section anyway...

U.S. Route 66 (US 66 or Route 66), also known as the Will Rogers Highway and colloquially known as the Main Street of America or the Mother Road, was one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway System. Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in America, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km). It was recognized in popular culture by both the hit song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s.  We linked up with this historic route in El Reno, Oklahoma and followed it through to Springfield, Missouri on our way back to Ohio.



 

Just one of the iconic Route 66 symbols painted on the historic roadway.

POPS Restaurant and Gas located in Arcadia, OK is billed as the newest, coolest landmark along Historic Route 66!  This 66-foot soda pop structure is here to represent the more than 600 sodas and beverages sold here.

A view of the racks and racks of soda selections available at POPS Restaurant and Gas.



Another view of the soda selections available at POPS Restaurant and Gas.



Like buffalo wings?  Then maybe this soda option available at POPS Restaurant and Gas is for you?  Although Shonah likes buffalo wings, he was not up for trying it.



An iconic "Route" Beer for the historic route.



Todd's parents love their ranch dressing.  We couldn't resist taking a photo of this one just for them.



The blue whale was a roadside attraction built as a place where travelers on Route 66 could stop for a swim in the lake or a picnic in the park.  The attraction was in operation from July 1972 and closed in 1988 when the creator became ill and could no longer operate it.  The location remains a picnic location, but the lake is closed to swimming.



The semi-restored remnants of the ghost town, Spencer, MO located along Route 66.



The numerical designation 66 was assigned to the Chicago-to-Los Angeles route on April 30, 1926 in Springfield, Missouri.



Another one of the Route 66 roadside attractions is the World's Largest Rocking Chair in Fanning, MO.  At over 42 feet tall, The World's Largest Rocking Chair stands nine feet taller than the former World's Largest Chair, now the World's Largest Office Chair, located in Anniston, Alabama.



The mural on the side of the interesting Fanning 66 Outpost in Fanning, MO.  Not only was this a general store that carried a various selection of items, the building housed an archery range in the back of the store.



Our last stop before returning "home" to Todd's parents in NE Ohio included a visit with long-time friends near Columbus, Ohio.  Included in the picture are Chip, Shonah, Todd, Rick, and Jean.