Travel Journal Letter B: Highway 66 Ch. 11-15

Highway 66 or otherwise known to John Steinbeck as the "Mother Road", started in Chicago which ran through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and ended in Los Angeles during the time of the Great Depression. Many farmers and their families used this long extended road to escape from the harsh times of the Dust Bowl and move into the green land of California. The severe droughts which caused bad dust storms resulted into not properly being able to landscape the crops. Farmers got worried and decided to move westward into California believing that they would get better jobs and homes for them and their families.

For the people who had small businesses along this road had great advantages and made profit when the highway became more popular. During this time there was a high demand for automobiles which triggered problems for the migrants because a lot of the cars weren't running properly due to the cars not being built correctly.

The reason this route is so significant to the Joads and all migrants is because it gives them great advantages to get to California. They are able to travel in a shorter amount of time through eight states instead of taking a much longer route. Also because of this short time advantage many shops opened up to give all families traveling supplies to fulfill there needs.







Research:
Route 66 History
Route 66: Dust Bowl
Route 66: A Brief History