Route 66 is the very essence of Americana – the embodiment of the American dream in diners, motels and gas stations. Route 66 evokes a strange mixture of mental images: some think of rusting gas pumps and broken neon signs, while others dream nostalgically of the freedom of the open road; some remember the perils of the ‘Okies’ in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, while others recall the antics of Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater in the animated movie Cars. Route 66 celebrates its 100th birthday in 2026 and this book pays tribute to that American icon with a selection of bright, upbeat and stimulating photographs. It celebrates the ethos, the history and the legacy of Route 66 and will appeal to anyone interested in transport, local history and nostalgia for ‘life on the road’. Above all, it aims to inspire photographers to capture the soul and the mood of Route 66 for themselves … and to keep the spirit of Route 66 alive for future generations.