There is nothing quite like the allure of the open road, especially when that road is the Mother Road itself. This past May 2026, our very own Raymond E. Gaines, FCSI, CCS, CDT, AIA, took the stage at the CSI North Central Region Conference to deliver a captivating presentation titled “Route 66 Remembered”.
As a self-proclaimed “Road Scholar” who has personally road-tripped down most of this iconic highway, Ray brought a unique blend of historical expertise, architectural insight, and firsthand travel passion to the conference.
Early Memories: Where the Passion Began
Every great obsession has an origin story. For Ray, the spark was ignited in the summer of 1959 during a family road trip.
The first two vintage photographs featured in his slideshow are treasured snapshots from that very vacation. In fact, the very first photo under his “Early Memories” slide features his mother standing proudly alongside the family’s first brand new car, framed by the rolling hills of the American landscape, taken at or around the petrified forest in Arizona. That 1959 trip kicked off a lifelong love affair with Route 66, eventually inspiring him to return as an architect and historian to document its changing landscape.
The Evolution of the Mother Road: From Earth to Concrete
For architects and specifiers, Route 66 isn’t just a symbol of Americana—it’s a living timeline of American civil engineering and infrastructure design. Ray’s presentation dived deep into the literal building blocks of the highway, showcasing the evolution of pavement cross-sections over the decades:
- 1900–1920: The era of earth roads, gravel surfaces, and early oil macadam pavements.
- 1920–1930: The introduction of asphalt macadam and early Portland cement concrete pavement to handle increasing automobile traffic.
- 1930–1940: The standardization of the typical 2-lane geometric highway and more robust concrete specifications.
- 1940–1975: The transition into heavy-duty flexible and rigid pavement systems capable of supporting post-war commercial transit.
Beyond the pavement, Ray highlighted the structural art of the highway: its bridges. Attendees were treated to a retrospective on iconic crossings like the Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis and the Brush Creek (Rainbow) Bridge near Riverton, Kansas—notable for being the very last remaining of three Marsh concrete arches along the entire route.
Preserving Mid-Century Roadside Architecture
You can’t talk about Route 66 without talking about the vibrant, neon-lit architecture that grew along its shoulders. Ray explored how small-town business owners created a distinct visual language designed to catch the eye of drivers traveling at 50 miles per hour.
From the iconic Wigwam Motel and the Wagon Wheel Motel to mid-century staples like Ted Drewes Frozen Custard and Luna Cafe, these structures represent a fascinating chapter in commercial architectural history. They remind us how deeply transport infrastructure shapes the built environment around it.
Route 66: A Quick Timeline
To put the highway’s lifecycle into perspective, Ray mapped out a few of the critical milestones that defined its rise and eventual decommissioning:
| Date | Historical Milestone |
| April 30, 1926 | The highway numbering controversy is officially settled during a pivotal meeting in Springfield. |
| November 11, 1926 | The National Highway Numbering System becomes official, giving birth to Route 66. |
| October 13, 1984 | Williams, Arizona is bypassed by I-40, marking the end of the line for original town bypasses. |
| June 27, 1985 | Route 66 is officially decertified by AASHTO, shifting from an active highway to a historic legend. |
Cruising into the 21st Century
While Route 66 may have been officially decertified in 1985, Ray’s personal travel logs prove that its spirit is very much alive for modern adventurers. From starting at the “Begin” sign in historic Illinois (a nod to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) all the way to the end of the trail at the Santa Monica Yacht Harbor, the route remains a bucket-list pilgrimage for anyone who loves history, architecture, and design.
A Note from the Road: Navigating Route 66 today requires a bit of planning and a lot of appreciation for the preservation efforts of local communities. It’s a brilliant reminder that good architecture and thoughtful engineering leave a footprint that outlives any official highway status.
We are incredibly proud of Ray for representing our firm at the CSI North Central Region Conference and sharing his unique, deeply personal history with the great American road trip.
