How Route 66 Got Its Name

Had events unfolded just a bit differently, America's most famous highway might have followed another route entirely—or carried a number like U.S. 60 or U.S. 62. Somehow, I doubt Bobby Troup's song would have been quite as catchy if it had been called (Get Your Kicks on) Route 62.How U.S. 66 got its name is actually one of the more interesting—and surprisingly little-known—chapters in Route 66 history. Here's how it happened.A New Way to Number HighwaysBefore the 1920s, most long-distance roads had names rather than numbers. Organizations promoted routes such as the Lincoln Highway, National Old Trails Road, and Dixie Highway, but these named trails didn’t always connect from state to state, followed inconsistent alignments, and could leave travelers scratching their heads.In 1925, the federal government and the states agreed to create a standardized U.S. Highway System using numbered routes. The basic rules were simple:Even-numbered highways generally ran east-west.Odd-numbered…