Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street

by Stephen H. Provost

Before it was a modern freeway, California's State Highway 99 was "the main street of California," a simple two-lane road that passed through the downtowns of every city between the Mexican border and the Oregon state line. Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street turns back the clock to those days when a narrow ribbon of asphalt tied the state's communities together, with classic roadside attractions and plenty of fun along the way.
Highway 99 documents the birth, growth, and transformation of the highway; the gas stations, motels, restaurants, and attractions that flourished and declined by the roadside; and the communities, personalities, and historical events that made their mark on the highway. From the migrations of the Dust Bowl to the birth of the Bakersfield Sound to the foundation of America's fast-food culture, the history of California has happened around Highway 99, and Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street brilliantly depicts that history.

Genres: History

270 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2017

About the author

Stephen H. Provost writes fantasy adventures and historical nonfiction. A journalist with more than 30 years of experience and a former educator, he has worked as an editor, reporter, and columnist at four daily newspapers in California.

His works of fiction include "The Talismans of Time" and its sequel, "Pathfinder of Destiny"; the fantasy novels "Memortality" and its sequel, "Paralucidity"; the young adult science fiction adventure "Identity Break"; the novellas "The Only Dragon" and "Death's Doorstep"; and the "Twilight Zone"-inspired collection of short stories and dark poetry titled "Nightmare's Eve."

The author's nonfiction works include "Fresno Growing Up" and "Martinsville Memories" (history and nostalgia); "Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street" and "Highway 101: The History of El Camino Real (Americana and travel); "Yesterday's Highways" (Americana and travel); "A Whole Different League" (sports history); "The Legend of Molly Bolin" (sports biography); "Media Meltdown," "Political Psychosis" and "Jesus, You're Fired!" (commentary); "Please Stop Saying That! (humor, commentary); and "50 Undefeated" (history and inspiration).

His survey of American middle-sized cities and small towns, the Century Cities series, includes five titles so far: "Fresno Century," "San Luis Obispo Century," "Cambria Century," "Roanoke Century," and "Danville Century."

His extensive survey of ancient history, fable and mythology is contained in his Phoenix series of books.

Reviews

[Robert Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was especially interesting and fun to read. I am very familiar with Hwy 99 from my early life experiences and my love for the road. Provost gives the reader a virtual tour of the famous highway in narrative and vintage photos. I enjoyed reading about each town and found amazing stories about the people who were a part of them and the events that unfolded in them, both notable and not so notable. This was a well written account; a good read!

[Alan Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways this highway is weaved into my life story. Traveled almost the whole length of California and on into Oregon and Washington throughout my lifetime.

[E.R. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love history, and when it is a history of places I have seen and experienced it is all the more rich. Stephan Prevost author of “Growing up In Fresno” (which is where I grew up) has done it again with this fascinating and interesting history of Highway 99. Certainly the first Highway I ever traveled on it bisects the two cities I have lived most of my life in Fresno and Bakersfield,CA. But more than that, some of my earliest memories are looking out the window of my parents car while we drove 99 to my Aunt and Uncle’s house in Indio, or north on 99 to my grandmother’s house in Turlock, or my cousin’s in Modesto. Many of the photos are of places I remember seeing and in some cases remember entering in the distant past. It is still the main highway out of my home in Bakersfield heading north or south between grapevine on the south and Sacramento to the north. I learned much about my own local history and the history of communities up and down this state which has been my home for 67 years. Excellent read, highly recommended, thank you Mr. Prevost!

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street

He filled the book with California's history from beginning to end, I enjoy going "on tour" via his informative stories of real people past and present.
I am grateful to have his books to look forward to.
Thank You Stephen!

[David Middlecamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a good road trip, a new discovery around each turn and lots of photos documenting the quirky Americana along the highway. An engaging journey along the length of California's heartland.

[Steven Minniear · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nice that it focuses on individual areas since that lets you pick and choose what you want to read.

[Carl Upthegrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you lived in California anytime up through the 1980s you have likely driven on some part of Highway 99 as US99. This is a great way to step back in time and recall that famous road, the restaurants, motels, and attractions. Lots of photos and very readable descriptions of the history of the major North - South highway in the state for many years. It’s also full of useful information about the road, the towns it impacted, businesses and events. I thoroughly enjoyed it.