Where's The Real Route 66?

The famous 'mother road' from Chicago to Los Angeles was realigned numerous times. Where is the real route?

1 minute read

November 26, 2002, 10:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Alex Smith of Los Angeles wrote to Behind the Wheel to point out that his map book shows several routes, including a few that parallel each other, all claiming the Route 66 title.Question: How can there be two or more Route 66s running parallel so close?Answer: There are several roads with that designation because the route had several alignments over its 80 years or so of official existence.For example, three roads from South Pasadena to downtown Los Angeles -- Figueroa Street, Huntington Drive and the Pasadena Freeway -- all bear the historic Route 66 signs."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

Tuesday, November 26, 2002 in The Los Angeles Times

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