United States Way of Life&

Route 66

What is Route 66?• An entrepreneur named Cyrus Avery, from

Tulsa came up with the idea of a link between Chicago and L.A. and construction began in 1925.

• Route 66 gave economic relief during the Great Depression for communities that were along it.

• The landscape of the road and its reputation led to an increase of car trips in the U.S. at that time.

• Interstate 40 replaced many parts of the highway after almost 60 years of use.

• In 2008, the World Monuments Fund added Route 66 to the World Monuments Watch.

The U.S. dream

Four Adventurous Women

In November 1947, four young women drove from Rochester, New York, to Los Angeles by way of Route 66. One was returning home, two were moving to the West Coast, and one went along for the ride. The journey on Route 66 was a memorable time for all four

women: it represented a path to a better future, the way home, and an unforgettable look at the American West.

A path to a better future!!!

The Haggard family: “Headed west toward California”

In the 1930s, drought and falling crop prices drove thousands of rural midwestern families to leave their farms and follow Route 66 to California to find work. James F. and Flossie Haggard left Oklahoma in 1935 after a fire destroyed their barn and its contents. The Haggards and their children, Lillian and James Lowell, made their home near Bakersfield, and James found work with the Santa Fe Railway. Another son, Merle, was born in Bakersfield and began his singing career there. By the 1960s Merle Haggard was a country music legend.

Why is it important?

“I spent most of my life as a musician trying to measure the distance between the American Dream and American Reality.”

Bruce Springsteen

Route 66 ( TV series 1960-1964)

•Martin Milner and George Maharis

•Adventure and Freedom

Route 66: “Building” cities

• The car industry and the construction of Route 66 brought more job opportunities to the citizens.

• The growth of the cities around Route 66 is nowadays an historical symbol of prosperity and freedom.

• Amarillo is one of the cities that benefited from the mother road. After the construction of Route 66, the population grew from 100 to more than 1000 people. Now it is an important city in the state of Texas.

• Wildorado is another city that has had positive exponential growth as a result of the construction of Route 66 despite natural disasters.

U.S. DreamCadillac Ranch

The Boom of the Car Industry

THE CARS

Curiosities

Enjoy the ride!

Ana Eliza AzevedoBruna MirandaDaniel AlmeidaDouglas MercierGerson RochaHellen DesiréeIgor RosaJoão Lucas PiresKelly Schneider