Which nickname for U.S. Route 66 described it as a central American thoroughfare?

“Main Street of America” was a nickname used for U.S. Route 66.

The phrase reflected the road’s role in connecting communities across the middle of the United States. Route 66 passed through farms, small towns, commercial districts, and desert settlements rather than serving only major metropolitan centers. Its roadside businesses helped make the highway an important economic artery.

The nickname appeared alongside other descriptions, including “Mother Road” and “Will Rogers Highway.” These names emphasize different parts of Route 66’s identity: migration history, popular literature, and cultural commemoration.

“Main Street of America” should not be confused with a formal federal designation. It was a promotional and popular expression used by highway associations, businesses, writers, and preservationists. The term also explains why many surviving Route 66 communities present their old commercial streets as living historic districts rather than merely museum exhibits.