Route 66 - by Jim Hinckley (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Commemorate 100 years of America's "Mother Road" with this enthralling trip through the past, present, and future of Route 66.

The most iconic road in American history is turning 100. Over the past century, Route 66 has far surpassed its original prosaic purpose as an automotive thoroughfare from Chicago to Los Angeles, becoming a pop culture icon embedded in literature, song, film, and (most significantly) our imagination. It remains so even decades after the Interstate system mostly bypassed it. Route 66: 100 Years offers the ultimate road trip from veteran Route 66 author and historian Jim Hinckley and the expert panel of Mother Road historians assembled for the richly illustrated journey. The book features:

• Essays about the history of Route 66 in each of the eight states through which it passes (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California), written by Route 66 experts from those states
• Period and contemporary photographs of legendary must-see attractions
• Images of memorabilia from throughout ten decades and maps
• Sidebar features, including appearances in popular culture, state-by-state playlists, side trips, sites past and present, strange occurrences, a Route 66 timeline, and profiles of the people who continue to make 66 a popular destination for travelers from around the world

With more than 250 stops along the legendary route listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Route 66: 100 Years will ignite your wanderlust to join the millions of Americans taking road trips anchored in history and nostalgia. Local experts from each state guide you with boots-on-the-ground knowledge, insights, tips, and more.

Get your kicks on Route 66 like never before!

About the Author

Jim Hinckley is the author of twenty books and hundreds of feature articles on Route 66, the American Southwest, and the American auto industry. He has been a featured speaker at European Route 66 festivals in Germany and the Czech Republic, and at events in the United States and Canada. Hinckley is a former associate editor for Cars & Parts, and currently writes a monthly feature for New Zealand-based MotoringNZ. He also assists with the creation of visitor guides for communities such as Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the development of historic district walking tours. Jim is the creator of the Jim Hinckley's America network that includes a website (jimhinckleysamerica.com), social media, the weekly livestream Coffee with Jim program, a YouTube channel, and the Wake Up with Jim podcast. Linked with this are community education programs developed to foster an increased awareness of an area's history and its role in the development of tourism as a component in economic development.