The beloved, definitive book on Route 66--updated with a new chapter to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the most famous road in American cultureFrom its conception in 1926 to its decommissioning in 1985, Route 66 was the way to see the heartland of America. Winding through eight states and three time zones, The Mother Road was for travelers: those who appreciated the romance of the open highway. It led them from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, acting as a guide to the towns, attractions, businesses, families, and sights of the nation's Midwest, Southwest, and West. In Route 66: The Mother Road, Michael Wallis takes readers on an adventure from the conception of highways, through major moments in America's history, to the establishment of the national interstate highway system that signaled the decline of the fabled highway, before finally leading us down the 2,400 miles of Route 66 itself. With hundreds of photographs and text, he shows us that this road is still the enduring artery of the country, linking our past, present, and future. First published in 1990, the bestselling Route 66: The Mother Road sparked an unprecedented revival of the forgotten towns, diners, and motels along Route 66, transforming the road from a distant memory into a vibrant, internationally recognized destination in its own right. For this 100th anniversary edition, Wallis revisits the people and places that make Route 66 what it is: an American icon.