Route 66, at the end of the trail
The familiar Route 66 sign photographed at Santa Monica.
Photographs supplied by Vincent J. Esposito
Read the historical background
Route 66: a symbolic destination at the Pacific
The Santa Monica sign celebrates Route 66 as a journey across the American landscape. The route became associated with migration, roadside businesses and automobile tourism, and the oceanfront setting gives travelers a memorable place to mark the completion of a trip.
The sign should be distinguished from the road’s historic official endpoint. The California Historic Route 66 Association identifies Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards as the Santa Monica terminus reached by the route’s 1936 extension. The pier’s familiar sign functions as a ceremonial destination. That difference illustrates how travel traditions can add a new layer of meaning to transportation history.
Historical sources: Read the source