Route 66 Turns 100: A Century of Diners, Donkeys, Desert Dust, and America's Glorious Inability to Leave Well Enough Alone
One hundred years ago, America looked at a sprawling collection of towns, farms, deserts, mountains, and questionable dirt roads and decided what this country really needed was a highway connecting Chicago to California. Not universal prosperity. Not a sensible approach to urban planning. Not even decent public transportation. No, we needed approximately 2,400 miles of pavement so ordinary Americans could experience the freedom of driving across the country while slowly discovering that freedom apparently requires gasoline, mechanical repairs, and somewhere to relieve yourself. And somehow, against all reasonable expectations, it became one of the greatest cultural symbols this country has ever produced. On November 11, 2026, Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary. The Guardian marked the occasion with a photographic journey through the highway's history, featuring everything from dusty roadside garages and neon-lit diners to desert landscapes, oversized roadside attractions, an...
