Which nickname did the U.S. Highway 66 Association promote for U.S. Route 66?

The U.S. Highway 66 Association promoted “Main Street of America” as a nickname for U.S. Route 66.

The association was founded in 1927 to encourage paving, maintenance, and tourism along the new highway. Its promotional language presented Route 66 as a nationally important road linking Chicago with Southern California.

Route 66 acquired several other famous names. “The Great Diagonal Way” described its early diagonal path across the country, while John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath helped popularize “The Mother Road.” “Will Rogers Highway” was later used in memory of the entertainer.

The association’s marketing helped turn a numbered highway into a recognizable cultural brand. Its slogans emphasized commerce and travel, encouraging motorists to use Route 66 and businesses to promote themselves along its route.