Life Is A Preserved Highway

Story and Photos By Emily Key

Pixar's hit movie, “Cars,” gave homage to the character and history of Route 66. It showed us old towns stuck in time, never aging. It showed us dilapidated buildings and cars, from an era long past. Best of all, it showed us long-lasting camaraderie, through a group of residents who hold on to the glorious days of Route 66 without letting the modern age erase the past.

It was this movie that crossed my mind as our tires jostled across an old set of railroad tracks, entering the western section of Route 66. This highway runs from Chicago across the Midwest to the Santa Monica pier in California. Historically, this was the only way to travel from one destination to the other.

During the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, this highway was the route to a new life. People traveled west to escape despair and find hope. The highway earned the name “The Mother Road” as it gave birth to new opportunities, ideas and futures.

Now, it's a piece of history. The Interstate System replaced Route 66, causing economic activities and necessary businesses to dry up. Fortunately, sections of the highway have been saved and renamed “Historic Route 66”, giving us the ability to step back in time and experience the treasures that Route 66 has to offer. We entered route 66 in Elk City, Oklahoma, as it finishes its run south and turns west toward the coast. Old cars, trucks, signage and gas pumps can be seen on every corner, either for sale or proudly displayed as decor. The Airbnb was decorated wall to wall in historic memorabilia, all directed at Route 66.

When you're on this highway, you need no GPS. Letting Route 66 guide the way led us to amazing sights and experiences. As we crossed into Texas, we drove to Cadillac Ranch. An art installation created in the early 1970s along Route 66 W. features 10 Cadillacs standing tall (yes, standing) in the Texas sun. These caddies have been buried nose down in the dirt longer than they were cruising on four wheels. Tourists from across the world visit this attraction on

Route 66 and photograph themselves spray painting the cars. Where else are you allowed, no, encouraged to deface something

with spray paint?

It was a windy morning, which led to paint particles ending up all over everyone as we ran from car to car, climbing, painting and photographing. What's a memory without a mess?

From Cadillac Ranch, Route 66 led us further west where it became even more evident how historical this highway really is. We crossed into the state of New Mexico in the middle of a desert, with nothing visible in any direction. Nothing brings on hunger like driving for hours, with what feels like no progress.

The desert gives no indication that there's a destination up ahead until it appears like a mirage. Slowly, the small town of Tucumcari came into view, and finding a local eatery was first on all our minds. The town is clearly kept alive by tourism, with a population of barely over 5,000 people.

The first restaurant we approached was exactly what eating on Route 66 should be. A standard, no-frills building with drawings of food plastered in between dark windows. Walking up to the front door, we noticed something strange, yet oddly interesting. Each brick of the entire structure has names, dates and messages written in white ink.

After placing our order for a massive pizza to share, we were surprised to be handed a couple of white sharpie markers. The graffiti started to make sense — customers of Cornerstone First Edition Pizza and Subs are each asked to write their name on the walls, to become a forever part of Route 66.

We finished our meal, and continued exploring Tucumcari. Every building, sign and yard ornament glorifies the “Mother Road.” The town is home to Route 66 monuments, museums, murals and motels. You could drive through and ignore the history while listening to the monotonous tone of your GPS, or you could slow down and look around, taking it all in.

That was it. The last stop. It was time for us to head north, leaving Route 66 to continue its path all the way to coastal California. The on-ramp to the interstate used to bring me happiness. It meant I was on a journey, traveling somewhere. Now, it comes with a level of disappointment. Interstates get us where we want to go quickly, but at what cost? What treasures are we zooming past as we are completely unaware of opportunities to create memories and to leave our mark?

“They're driving right by; they don't even know what they're missing.” - Lightning McQueen, “Cars”