The Route 66

Notions abordées :

• Myths and heroes : côté mythique de la route 66 (american Dream)
• Idea of progress : 1ère route qui traverse tous les USA et progrès grâce à la création de l’Interstate 40
• Spaces and exchanges : échange démographique avec migration de la population notamment lors du Dust Bowl et de la Great Depression. Echange culturel vis-à-vis de tous les films fait là as

Fiche sur la route 66 :

 The Route 66

The Route 66 was built in 1926, it crosses 8 states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Its 2278 miles long and it crosses the United States of America from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Route 66 is an icon of The American Dream, all the people of the world dream to ride this road with a Chevrolet or a Harley Davidson one day. It’s a historic place where there are beautiful sight from the top of mountains and memorable landscape.

This road is used less now because it was replaced by the Interstate 40 in 1985; this highway is faster and more practical than Route 66. But the Route 66 continues to be used by persons who do a road trip. The journey should ne unforgettable for these people; they will be able to see these mythical billboards that can be seen from miles before, the drive-ins, etc.

The Interstate 40 compete with the Route 66 because it’s more practical to go to work every day and the road is straight not winding, but the Interstate 40 will never have the spirit of the Route 66.

The “Mother Road” starts being to be old and is becoming the “Great mother Road” that’s why the Congress spent 10 million dollars for its preservation. Many associations also help with fundraising.

The Route 66 is a historic place because it went through many years with difficulties.
The Great Depression is a part of the story of the Route 66, which was the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world; it began soon after the stock market crash of October 1929.
The “Dust Bowl” is an event of the story of Route 66, “Dust Bowl” was the name given to the Great Plains region devastated by drought in 1930s depression-ridden America. During this event farmers left their plants because they were barren and they hit the Route 66 to move towards California. These refugees wanted to find a better life and opportunities in California because it’s a rich land for them.

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