|
The Role of Oklahoma & Arizona in the
Colorful Story of Route 66
In 1946 Nat King Cole had an instant hit with Bobby Troup’s ode to main street
America, which has since been recorded over 200 times.
The song lyrics took us on a journey down the
most famous 2-lane road in America, US highway route 66. The
mother road runs across 3 time zones and 8 states, meandering
for over 2400 miles from Illinois, to Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Along the way Troup showed us how to "get your
kicks on route 66" in St. Louie, Joplin, Oklahoma City,
Amarillo, Gallup, Flagstaff, Kingman, Winona, Barstow and San
Bernardino.
US Route 66 is one of the original federal
highway routes and was officially named the “Will Rogers
Highway” by the US Highway 66 Association in 1952. In
Claremore Oklahoma you’ll find a statue honoring Oklahoma's
most famous citizen and renowned actor, broadcaster and
writer.
Often referred to as America’s main street,
route 66 may not begin in Oklahoma however the idea for route
66 originated in Oklahoma in the early 1920's.
The citizens of Oklahoma lobbied government to
create a highway that would connect Middle America with states
both east and west of Oklahoma. Route 66 was created by
connecting the existing highway system in all 8 states,
resulting in one main arterial route from Chicago to Oklahoma
City and on to Santa Monica, California.
In the end Oklahoma became the heart and soul of
US route 66. There are more miles of route 66 asphalt in
Oklahoma than in any other state along the mother road.
During the great depression when Middle America
became a giant dust bowl, route 66 became a major migratory
route west. Over 210,000 people migrated from Oklahoma along
route 66 to California. Today Oklahoma is home to the official
museum of route 66, located in Clinton, Oklahoma.
After the last section of route 66 was bypassed
by Interstate 40 in October of 1984 at Williams, Arizona,
route 66, the mother road was finally decommissioned.
Still, our imagination and affection for this
beloved highway has since made route 66 a destination unto
itself. Main Street America lives on in books, songs, film and
of course, our authentic all-metal/steel
Route 66 Shield Signs.
Own A Piece of
A Real American Legend:
Route 66 Signs
 Crossroads Sign Company is family owned and operated. We specialize in
making authentic, deep embossed US
Route 66 Highway State Signs.
These 18-gauge metal/steel signs are manufactured in the very
same factory and using the very same sign making equipment and
dies that were used to make these authentic state highway
signs back in the 1930's & 40's.  These are not
cheap tin replicas of route 66 highway signs but deep embossed 18-gauge steel
that are enamel painted and baked. The fabricating process
conforms to the original 1929 U.S. bureau of roads standard
for highway markers and your order includes a free copy
excerpt of the sign manual! Ask us about our route
66 clothing. We also offer heavy steel stock street
signs and parking
signs and can custom make personalized
aluminum signs and personalized
steel signs.
| 
