“Get Your Kicks on Route 66” is a fun and relaxing song recorded by the King Cole Trio in 1946. However, the most interesting thing about the song isn’t necessarily the song itself but rather its subject matter, Route 66. The song that was inspired by a road trip, inspired many Americans to take a road trip of their own.
Route 66 runs from Chicago to LA and linked many small towns to the rest of the country for the first time, helping businesses develop. The road grew in popularity as more Americans began to afford cars and the national highway system grew. Although Route 66 has been realigned into other highways, people still make a point of traveling the original route. There are annual festivals celebrating Route 66 and even one man who is determined to found Europe’s first Route 66 museum. Who knew a road that doesn’t exist would be so popular, even abroad.
Jennifer is currently a senior at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. She is graduating in May 2018 and looking forward to going to graduate school in the fall at Rutgers. Jennifer enjoys cooking, running, and most importantly the beach.