The Mother Road

On 11 November 2026, U.S. Route 66 will turn one century old. This road boasts cultural significance like few other roads in the country, being the focus of escape, longing, and hope for Americans for a hundred years. Nicknamed “The Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in 1939, this highway served as a tourist and commercial hotbed for a long time- and for Arizonans up north, the old 66 corridor is the main artery West or East. This being the case, hundreds and hundreds of roadside attractions beckoned for tourism dollars and attention all along the route. Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985, but the western half of the old route’s alignment was mostly maintained by the then-new Interstate 40. In 2026, this lonesome but lively road and many of its old roadside stops celebrate 100 years of history.

As a homage to the weaving web of history this road has, and to explore its many historical attractions throughout Arizona, I am embarking on a project to document these areas as they exist today.

While many of these places may turn the common tourists eye away, there is still some magic to be found in these places. Take a look at what I’ve discovered!