Historic Route 66
Part of Our American History

Family owned and operated Crossroads Sign Company offers authentic, deep-embossed, route 66 metal shield signs.

These route 66 metal highway signs are made using the very same dies and sign-making equipment that conform to the 1929 U.S. standard for highway makers and created the famous route 66 road signs of the 1930's and 40's. These are not cheap replica signs folks! We also carry route 66 clothing with the historic route 66 map printed on them!

Unlike other highways, U.S. route 66, America’s most famous and beloved highway, did not follow a direct linear course.

The idea for route 66 began in Oklahoma, with hopes of better connecting Middle America with states both east and west. While the federal government acknowledged that a shorter, faster route across America was necessary, the decision was made in 1926 to connect existing highway routes in all eight states, thus creating an arterial, yet somewhat meandering 2-lane highway. When completed, U.S. Route 66 stretched for over 2400 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California!

Route 66 became, as noted American author John Steinbeck stated, the “mother road” that linked rural towns and communities to major urban centers. Farmers transported their produce more readily, the trucking industry thrived and during the great depression, tens of thousands of people migrated from the dust bowl of Middle America to California.

World War II saw U.S. route 66 being utilized as the quickest route for transporting the military across America.

Following the war, tourism along route 66 thrived as motels, diners, café stops, gas stations and roadside attractions sprung up all along the route 66 corridor to cater to an ever more mobile American public.

By the early 1960's however, route 66 was quickly fading into history. America was traveling the larger, 4-lane interstate highways that were built for the very same reasons route 66 was built…to create a shorter, faster route across America. Commentator Charles Kurault stated, "Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."

In 1985, route 66 was officially decommissioned. However, renewed public interest has contributed to the revival of historic route 66, making America's most legendary road a destination in its own right. Maybe it is our desire to "see something", a part of American history perhaps, that has helped people to continue to “get their kick on route 66”.

We hope you share our interest in the colorful history of old route 66.