A century on the Mother Road

One hundred years ago marked the birth of the Main Street of America. Better known as Route 66, the country’s iconic 2,400-mile highway stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles was originally developed to serve the oil industry. It later became a vital corridor for farmers fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, earning the nickname “the Mother Road” in John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Over time, Route 66 became a cross-country landmark. Catering to American wanderers and travelers, its mom-and-pop establishments became a defining feature. As it winds through the country, the highway reflects rural America much in the same way U.S. 60 does in the Globe-Miami area.

Arizona’s award winning travel writer Roger Naylor will return to Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum this month to speak about Arizona’s role in the history and cultural legacy of Route 66. The route is the subject of one of his latest books, “Arizona Route 66 Road Trip,” released last fall. 

The book’s release is timely, as 2026 marks the route’s centennial.

“It's a very big deal,” Naylor says. “A lot of attention is being focused on the Mother Road.” 

Stretching across eight states from Illinois to California, Route 66 evolved into a travel corridor connecting communities throughout rural America.

Following World War II, growing prosperity and the rise of the automobile helped popularize the American family road trip, further increasing the highway’s notoriety.

“So much of Route 66 is a little bit of a time capsule that it has maintained a lot of that charm and earthiness from past eras,” Naylor says. “It was that post-war era heyday that kind of led to a lot of the things that we relate to — the neon signs, the roadside attractions, the auto camps and motor courts.”

Small towns were central to the Route 66 experience, offering travelers locally owned diners, unassuming motels and other family-run businesses.

Focusing on the Arizona portion of the route, Naylor’s book serves as a travel guide while providing a historical overview. It highlights restaurants, activities, events and lodging along the highway while exploring Arizona’s role in preserving the historic route.

After all, Arizona is the state that saved Route 66, Naylor says.

The rise of modern interstate highways such as I-40 led to Route 66 being decertified and removed from the U.S. highway system in 1985.

Then came a small group of residents in Seligman who rallied to preserve the route within Arizona. After their efforts proved successful, other states followed suit, and the roadway was eventually renamed Historic Route 66.

“That's an important story to hear in these strange times, a reminder that people can make a difference, that individuals can very much make a difference in society, change the direction of things,” Naylor says. 

Arizona boasts the longest remaining stretch of original two-lane Route 66, with more than 150 miles preserved as it passes through towns such as Holbrook, Winslow, Williams, Seligman and Kingman.

That's all the original fabric of the highway there, so people can experience that,” Naylor says.

“The more technology takes over our lives with the GPS telling us where to turn, where to go, giving us all the directions, we don't wander anymore; we don't get lost,” he adds. “Put all that stuff down for just a little bit and have fun. Old fashioned experiences have something real. There's nothing like a road trip to kind of remind us that life doesn't always have to be complicated.”

As Naylor transitions into retirement and focuses more on writing novels, he expects to scale back his public speaking engagements, making this visit a rare opportunity to hear from one of Arizona’s best-known travel writers.

Naylor’s presentation will be held Friday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Bullion Plaza Cultural Center & Museum in Miami. The event is free to attend. His books will be available for purchase.

For more information, visit: rogernaylor.com.