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Nearly 200 miles of Route 66, including the longest and most intact two-lane, non-freeway segment, are in the 41st District of California. Designated in 1926, the road stretches from Chicago to Los I'm also a proud cosponsor of H.R. 66, which preserves the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor. This bill passed the House unanimously and is now Public Law 106-45. The grants and assistance, totaling $10 million, would be Recently, I was able to secure funds to stencil the legendary Route 66 shield on portions of the Mother Road, eliminating the need for road signs that are often stolen by collectors. Reminding motorists that they are traveling on no ordinary highway, the shield emblem is actually painted on the road itself. Amboy, Barstow, Needles, and Victorville have all participated in the stenciling program and many other Route 66 towns are soon to follow.
You may know Route 66 from the television series of the same name as well as Bobby Troupe's "Get Your Kicks on Route 66," a song popularized by Nat "King" Cole but performed since by thousands of singers and bands. Both Barstow and San Bernardino are mentioned in this legendary tune: If you ever plan to motor west The 41st District of California section of Route 66, especially the Mojave desert, was the most feared and treacherous of the entire 2,448 mile highway. Travelers heading west had grown weary of the road, and just wanted to get to Los Angeles sooner rather than later. The intense heat along with the isolation made trekking across the Mojave an adventure not lightly undertaken. Travelers often journeyed across the desert at night to avoid the heat and packed coolers with ice, made sure the gas tank and radiator were topped off, and hung water bags on the bumper. Even today the Mojave stretch is still the most grueling leg of the entire Route 66 journey. From Arizona, Route 66 starts its California trip by heading east into Needles. From there, the road heads northwest, winding its way through the isolated Continuing northwest, travelers journey onward to Bagdad, Ludlow, Newberry Springs, and Daggett. Next up is Barstow, a town that takes great pride in is Route 66 heritage. In fact, Route 66 is the Main Street in town. Back in the early days of Hollywood, Barstow was a hideout for many famous movie stars looking for a weekend getaway. Today, Barstow is a bustling city with a Route 66 Museum in the historic Harvey House. The Mother Road starts its journey south as travelers motor through Lenwood, Hodge, Helendale, Oro Grande, Victorville, and the last stop for Route 66 in the 41st District, San Bernardino. San Bernardino, home to the Wigwam Hotel and location of the very first McDonald's, is as much a symbol of The Mother Road as the Route 66 highway sign. Despite the creation of the interstate, Route 66 survives. The 41st District section is unique with its desert, isolation, and interesting sites along the way. Travelers who decide to make this journey will certainly find it worthwhile. Want to learn more about Route 66? Check out these links: Welcome to Route 66: the best site for information on and photos of the 41st District's section of Route 66 California Route 66 Preservation Foundation Many thanks to Roger Hatheway |
Angeles and was one of the first continuous long distance highways in America. Route 66 is the premier historic trail of the automobile age, and it traces a path through my district all the way from Needles on the Colorado River to San Bernardino. Often known as "The Mother Road" it was the favored route of migrants, soldiers, dustbowl victims, families, and travelers until the advent of the Interstate in the 1950s. While the interstates may have wounded the Mother Road, Route 66 is far from dead. The 41st District's slice of Route 66 is home to many small town diners, gas stations, and tourist sites unique to the road.
available to qualified state and local public programs, as well as Indian tribes, non-profit and private efforts at preservation of the Route 66 resources. The local groups would be required to provide up to 50 percent of the funding to be eligible for grants. The legislation requires the Department of the Interior to provide assistance that is compatible with local interests, and bars the creation of an overall management plan. The department would coordinate a program of historic research and preservation strategies for the most valuable cultural assets along the highway.
desert towns of Homer and Goffs before dipping south toward Fenner, Essex, Summitt, Chambless, and Amboy. Since 1938, 
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