Happy 81st Birthday Route 66 and US Highway System

Not only is today Veterans Day, but also, it was on this date back in 1926 that the whole US Highway System was established. That would include Route 66 and all numbered US highways from 1 to 100.

Roads with termini (ends)east and west received even numbers, and those north and south received odd numbers.

The east-west roads started in the north with US-2 and worked their way southward. The more important transcontinental roads ended with zero. The north-south roads started on the east coast with US-1 and worked their way to the Pacific. The key ones ended with one or five. These were usually the ones going from Canada all the way to the southern borders of the US.

This replaces a system of naming roads, like the Lincoln or Dixie highways, that were causing great confusion as the numbers of cars increased. It was a necessary thing to do.

Then, in 1955, the Interstate System replaced the US Highways as the primary mode of transportation. I'm sure glad they did. I couldn't even imagine how bad things would be if we still were using the US Highways as the main way to get around.

Liz and I are more than a little hooked on old roads, as you may well know.

Happy Birthday US Highways, and Especially Route 66. --RoadDog