Back Home on May 23, 2025. Got My Kicks On Route 66. Drove 3,100 Miles. Home is in Downtown Bloomington on Route 66

 

The Ensenberger building on Route 66, at 212 N Center Street is a classic building in the center of downtown Bloomington, Illinois. 

 

The colorful terra-cotta medallions and ornate indoor decorations make the seven-story an attractive addition to the city.

In 2008 the original 1910 building plus the 1926 seven-story addition was re-opened as a residential condo complex.

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Route 66, famously known as "The Mother Road" and "Main Street of America," was a historic highway stretching approximately 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. Established in 1926, it played a pivotal role in American history and culture for nearly six decades.

Its diagonal course connected hundreds of rural communities across eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. This made it a vital artery for farmers transporting produce and grain, and by the 1930s, for the burgeoning trucking industry.

During the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era, Route 66 became a symbol of hope and a pathway to a better life, as thousands of families migrated west to California in search of work. This mass exodus was famously chronicled by John Steinbeck in his 1939 novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," where he dubbed it "the mother road, the road of flight"—a nickname that endured.

Beyond its utilitarian purpose, Route 66 became a vibrant hub of American roadside culture. It was dotted with countless "mom-and-pop" businesses—motels, diners, gas stations, and quirky roadside attractions—that catered to travelers and came to define Americana. Its allure was further amplified by popular culture, including Bobby Troup's hit song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" and the 1960s television series "Route 66."

However, with the advent of the Interstate Highway System in the mid-20th century, Route 66 gradually became obsolete. Faster, more efficient interstates bypassed many of its original sections, leading to its eventual decline. The highway was officially decommissioned in 1985.

Despite its decommissioning, the legacy of Route 66 lives on. Portions of the original road have been designated as "Historic Route 66" and are preserved, allowing travelers to experience a nostalgic journey through a significant piece of American history.

Downtown Bloomington in the reflection of the wine glass