Route 66 the main street of America

Route 66, the first continuous road linking Chicago and Los Angeles, is an iconic American highway that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Originally designed in 1926 to create a speedier connection with the Pacific coast, today Route 66 represents the opposite: deceleration and leisure time. Passing through eight states, drivers see bustling cities like Santa Fe and ghost towns like Calico, natural spectacles such as the Mojave Desert, and the glories of the Grand Canyon. A road trip on Route 66 draws on the nostalgia of the American dream: the freedom to reinvent oneself, the lure of open country, the cult of 'Easy Rider', desert vistas, neon signs, vintage motels, mom-and-pop diners - in short, it is the symbol of a nation that idealises being 'on the road'. This superb collection of photographs highlights forgotten places and outstanding sights along the legendary highway.