{"id":48789,"date":"2026-04-08T00:41:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T04:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/historic-route-66-celebrates-100-years-of-american-road-trip-legacy\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T00:41:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T04:41:16","slug":"historic-route-66-celebrates-100-years-of-american-road-trip-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/historic-route-66-celebrates-100-years-of-american-road-trip-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Route 66 Celebrates 100 Years of American Road Trip Legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The legendary Route 66 isn’t designed for speed \u2014 it’s all about experiencing the adventure along the way.<\/p>

America’s famous Mother Road celebrates its centennial anniversary this year. Though it lost its designation as a primary national highway many years ago, travelers from across the globe continue to visit this legendary stretch of asphalt for what many consider the ultimate American adventure, drawn to its glowing neon signs, quirky roadside lodges, and unique dining experiences.<\/p>

Beyond creating a pathway linking busy Chicago to California’s coast, planners a hundred years ago envisioned connecting America’s rural communities while fostering new business opportunities throughout the corridor. The highway quickly evolved into an enduring emblem of opportunity and liberty for countless American families.<\/p>

While numerous sections of Route 66 now feature empty structures and weathered signage, visitors can still uncover rich historical treasures and enchanting experiences. Each destination sparks curiosity, encouraging modern explorers to envision the lives of residents and towns that once brought vitality to this storied highway.<\/p>

This collection features images selected by Associated Press photography staff.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

America’s legendary Route 66 marks its centennial this year, continuing to draw travelers worldwide despite losing its status as a major highway decades ago. The historic roadway, stretching from Chicago to the West Coast, remains a symbol of American freedom and adventure with its vintage motels, neon signs, and roadside attractions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":48788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[831],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775623275806.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-cGV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48785,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/americas-legendary-route-66-celebrates-100-years-of-cross-country-adventure\/","url_meta":{"origin":48789,"position":0},"title":"America’s Legendary Route 66 Celebrates 100 Years of Cross-Country Adventure","author":"Admin","date":"April 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The iconic Route 66 highway reaches its centennial milestone this year, marking 100 years since the famous road first connected Chicago to Los Angeles. 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