History of Route 66
A Short History of Historic Route 66
Prior to the construction of old route 66 in the mid-1920's, smaller outlying communities had no access to our country’s national road system. After route 66 was completed this all changed. In its heyday, the small towns and communities that thrived along old route 66 were passed through by thousands of vehicles per day.
Then beginning in the mid 1950's the US government built larger, faster divided highways that slowly bypassed entire stretches of the old 2-lane US route 66. Traffic on route 66 was lost to these 4-lane interstate roadways and eventually the number of vehicles passing through these small towns along the mother road dwindled down into the single digits.
As an old route 66 enthusiast I remember traveling the mother road in my youth. I remember those authentic, antique route 66 metal signs. I also remember seeing all the posted signs that informed passing motorists of the numerous roadside attractions, motels, gas stations, drive-ins and unique diners like Alice’s Eatery & Service Station (eat here and get gas!).
After the last stretch of old route 66 was bypassed by Interstate 40 at Williams, Arizona in 1984 the US federal government decommissioned the mother road. Today, like many of the antique metal signs that could be found along old route 66, most of these vintage signs and the places they advertised are also gone.
A few simply exist as ghosts of the mother road lingering to remind us of a fantastic bygone era when mom & pop diners, malt stops, motels, tourist courts and other roadside attractions of every nature flourished and nourished our traveling America. In the last decade the mother road has enjoyed a revival of sorts and has since become a destination unto itself attracting tourists from around the world.
Vintage Route 66 Metal Highway Signs
Old route 66 has been immortalized in songs, books, television and even film. Now you can own a piece of our great American history.
Family owned and operated Crossroads Sign Company offers authentic, route 66 metal signs, antique metal sign products that are made on the exact same sign fabricating equipment, using the exact same dies that were used to make the vintage route 66 metal highway signs back in the 1930’s & 40’s!
These are not cheap replica tin signs but are made of deep-embossed 18-gauge steel metal, enamel painted and baked!
Why not own a great piece of Americana. Choose nostalgic, antique metal sign products for any or all eight route 66 states including Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Or ask about our hiways and biways sign package. Crossroads also carries heavy steel, stock street signs and parking signs plus custom made personalized aluminum signs and personalized steel signs.
