Before its 1936 extension to Santa Monica, Los Angeles was the western terminus of U.S. Route 66.
When Route 66 was established in 1926, its western end was in Los Angeles. The highway followed a route through Southern California before ending in the city, which was already a major destination and transportation center.
In 1936, Route 66 was extended westward from the Los Angeles area to Santa Monica. This change gave the highway its famous oceanfront endpoint and helped create the popular image of Route 66 running from Chicago to the Pacific coast.
A common mix-up is treating Santa Monica as the original western terminus. Santa Monica became the celebrated endpoint only after the later extension; Los Angeles was the earlier terminus. The route’s exact alignment in the Los Angeles region changed over time, so historic maps and modern commemorative signs may identify different streets or nearby communities.