As Route 66 approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026, Arizona author and travel writer Roger Naylor took a packed audience on a journey through the history, culture and enduring appeal of the iconic highway during a recent Goodyear Arts & Culture Commission event.
Naylor headlined the relaunch of the city’s rebranded After Hours Art Talk series, drawing a larger-than-usual crowd to a 90-minute presentation that blended history, humor and personal storytelling. The event marked Naylor’s return to the series after a previous well-attended appearance two years ago.
Route 66, often called the “Mother Road,” was officially established on Nov. 11, 1926, stretching roughly 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Naylor traced its evolution from a vital commercial route and economic engine for small towns to a powerful symbol of hope during the Great Depression, when families fleeing the Dust Bowl traveled west in search of opportunity.
“Route 66 was designed to connect communities,” Naylor said.
He detailed how its winding path intentionally passed through small towns, earning it the nickname “the Main Street of America.”
Arizona, he said, plays a central role in the highway’s story. The state is home to the longest remaining drivable stretch of Route 66, the highest elevation along the route, the steepest grade, and the only national park the road ever passed through, Petrified Forest National Park.
Naylor explained how the highway became fully paved by 1938, thanks in part to New Deal programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps. During World War II, Route 66 again proved essential, serving as a major artery for troop movements, equipment and access to military installations across the Southwest.
The postwar years marked Route 66’s golden era. From the mid-1940s through the early 1970s, the road defined the American road trip, giving rise to motels, diners, neon signs and roadside attractions designed to lure travelers off the pavement.
“That’s where everything we know about road trips comes from,” Naylor said, pointing to Arizona landmarks such as the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, the Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Joseph City, and the “Standin’ on the Corner” site in Winslow, inspired by the Eagles’ hit song “Take It Easy.”
But the highway’s fortunes changed with the rise of the interstate system.
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 led to the construction of faster, limited-access highways that bypassed many Route 66 towns. Williams became the last Arizona community bypassed in 1984, and by 1985, Route 66 was officially decommissioned.
Naylor credited the road’s revival to grassroots preservation efforts, particularly those led by Angel Delgadillo of Seligman, often called the “Father of Route 66.”
In 1987, Delgadillo helped form the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, the first organization of its kind, which successfully lobbied to have portions of the old highway designated as Historic Route 66.
“That movement started here,” Naylor said. “Arizona provided the blueprint that every other state followed.”
Today, Route 66 attracts visitors from around the world, with international travelers accounting for a majority of tourism along the road. Naylor emphasized the importance of supporting locally owned businesses that continue to keep the highway’s spirit alive.
Throughout the talk, Naylor also highlighted stories featured in his book, “Route 66 Road Trip,” which serves as both a cultural history and travel guide, spotlighting restaurants, motels and attractions along the Arizona stretch.
“Road trips reconnect us to place,” he said. “They remind us that the journey itself still matters.”
The After Hours Art Talk series continues as part of Goodyear’s ongoing arts and culture programming.
James Goldmeer Reporter | Goodyear & Litchfield Park
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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