Why is US 6 called the Grand Army highway?

Major William L. Anderson, Jr., of the U.S. Army conceived the idea of designating U.S. 6 the Grand Army of the Republic Highway to honor the Union forces during the Civil War. Based on his recommendation, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War began promoting the idea in April 1934.



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Named US Route 6, the road stretched from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Long Beach, California. It became one of America's first transcontinental highways. Today the road remains one of the longest highways in the nation.

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Route 66's popularity led to its downfall, with traffic swelling beyond its two-lane capacity. In 1956, legislation created the Interstate System, and over the course of three decades, five separate interstates bypassed segment after segment of Route 66.

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The answer to the trivia question of which is the loneliest road in the United States: James W. Dalton Highway, which spans 414 miles between Fairbanks and Deadhorse in Alaska. An interactive map allows exploration of the loneliest road in all 50 states.

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Regarding the most fatalities per 100 miles, Interstate 95 (I-95) is considered the most dangerous road in America.

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Of the original 2,448 miles that made up Route 66, about 80-85% is still drivable.

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Blue Whale of Catoosa (Catoosa, Oklahoma) Every Route 66 road trip needs a few stops at roadside oddities, and this giant blue whale in a small lake is one of the most famous. Enter the whale if you dare, or simply grab souvenirs at the gift shop after you've snapped your photo.

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