Two thousand four hundred miles, a hundred years, and a road that became an idea.
Established on November 11, 1926, Route 66 originally ran about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, changing how Americans travelled and turning into a symbol of freedom and adventure. These eight stamps mark the highway's centenary and the work still being done to preserve it. Art director Greg Breeding calls the scope “daunting” at first; the project found its footing once researchers located David Schwartz, who has photographed the road for more than 20 years and became both image source and guide to its history. Schwartz became interested in 1988, after hearing Depeche Mode's cover of “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”; he first drove it in 2004 and has since made the trip 40 more times, usually in sections, which he finds more rewarding than the full run. “Route 66 is a thread that weaves together American history, culture, and identity,” he says.
Take the long way. Send the postcard from there.
PERFECT FOR: road-trip postcards, travel journals, gifts for people who drive for pleasure, Americana collections, and the glovebox where a stamp or two should always live.
