Why Did America Abandon Route 66? | Abandoned (Full Episode)

Summary by Krater

Rick McCrank and Frank Gerwer take a 2,400-mile road trip along Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago, exploring abandoned roadside attractions, ghost towns, and the history of the highway.

From the video

Answers: What is it like to drive Route 66 today?

• Route 66 road trip
• Abandoned roadside attractions
• Ghost towns
• Skateboarding
• African American travel history

What it concludes

• Route 66 served as the first paved road to the West Coast and became a symbol of prosperity and the American dream.
• The construction of interstates in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s bypassed main streets, causing many Route 66 towns to lose their business.
• Route 66 offered a notoriously segregated experience for Black travelers before the civil rights movement, with many towns operating as sundown towns.