The Aztec Motel in Seligman, Arizona is located along the historic U.S. Route 66. U.S. Route 66, also known as the 'Will Rogers Highway' after the humorist, and often colloquially known as the 'Main Street of America', the 'Mother Road', or the 'Most Famous Road in the World'. U.S. Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 and it became one of the most famous highways in America. It ran originally from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California before ending at Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,939km). It became the first highway to be completely paved in 1938. The route went through many small towns and cities attracting mom and pop businesses such as service stations, restaurants, and motor courts (motels). It marked the birth of the fast-food industry. Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri; site of the first drive-through restaurant and the first McDonald's in San Bernadino, California. During the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s it was used by people from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas who moved out West to California to begin a new life. This movement was made famous by John Steinbeck's novel the 'Grapes of Wrath' and the subsequent 1940 movie of the same title, directed by John Ford starring Henry Fonda, chronicling the hardships endured by these people, often referred to as 'Oakies' and 'Arkies', during their trip along U.S. Route 66, and their difficult migrant status in the agricultural sector of the labor movement in California. U. S. Route 66 had a second influx of major movement during WWII when defense related industry in California attracted many people from the east. In the 1950s Route 66 became the main highway for vacationers heading to Los Angeles. In Arizona the route passed through the Painted Desert, and near the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater (Wikipedia). With the construction of the Interstate Highway System, traffic gradually shifted away from the old route and with it, business. U.S. Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System on June 27, 1985. In Arizona there is evidence of U.S. Route 66 in Holbrook, Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams, Ashfork, Seligman, and Kingman. However, when west-bound on I-40 at exit 139, just west of Ashfork, there begins a contiguous stretch of the Historic Route 66, well-maintained, that goes through Seligman, Peach Springs to Kingman. Along that section are occasional abandoned service stations, restaurants, motels, and old cars that are remnants of the old days. This picture was taken on 8 October 2011, Sig...