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Here We Are . . . on Route 66: A Journey Down America’s Main Street
Here We Are . . . on Route 66 provides the fascinating histories of iconic landmarks and cultural touchstones associated with America’s most famous highway—and celebrates lesser-known gems just off the beaten path.
Spanning nearly 2,500 miles and eight states—Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California— America’s Main Street has given rise to a colorful assortment of roadhouses , motels , greasy spoons , roadside amusements , and breathtaking natural scenery . Acclaimed Route 66 historian Jim Hinckley offers a carefully curated selection of these sites, ranging from the iconic to the revelatory.
Arranged by classic Route 66 topics, is a beautifully produced history rather than a guidebook. Each spread gives you a different 66 site or attraction, along with a concise and authoritative history illustrated with colorful photography , evocative historical imagery , and collectibles like postcards, ads, and more . Topics Hinckley is perhaps the most internationally recognized authority on the subject of America’s Main Street. This collection offers you the stories behind Route 66 icons such as Baxter Springs and Tucumcari, Meramec Caverns, Arroyo Seco Byway, Berghoff’s and the Oatman Hotel, Munger Moss and Wigwam Motel—and dozens more. Hinckley also treats you to a fresh look at lesser known but deserving attractions.
At nearly a century old, Route 66 remains the embodiment of the classic American highway. Written by an acknowledged authority on the subject, wonderfully illustrated, and presented in a manner that allows you to dip in and out, Here We Are . . . on Route 66 is a must-have for your Route 66 bookshelf .
Spanning nearly 2,500 miles and eight states—Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California— America’s Main Street has given rise to a colorful assortment of roadhouses , motels , greasy spoons , roadside amusements , and breathtaking natural scenery . Acclaimed Route 66 historian Jim Hinckley offers a carefully curated selection of these sites, ranging from the iconic to the revelatory.
Arranged by classic Route 66 topics, is a beautifully produced history rather than a guidebook. Each spread gives you a different 66 site or attraction, along with a concise and authoritative history illustrated with colorful photography , evocative historical imagery , and collectibles like postcards, ads, and more . Topics Hinckley is perhaps the most internationally recognized authority on the subject of America’s Main Street. This collection offers you the stories behind Route 66 icons such as Baxter Springs and Tucumcari, Meramec Caverns, Arroyo Seco Byway, Berghoff’s and the Oatman Hotel, Munger Moss and Wigwam Motel—and dozens more. Hinckley also treats you to a fresh look at lesser known but deserving attractions.
At nearly a century old, Route 66 remains the embodiment of the classic American highway. Written by an acknowledged authority on the subject, wonderfully illustrated, and presented in a manner that allows you to dip in and out, Here We Are . . . on Route 66 is a must-have for your Route 66 bookshelf .
- GenresNonfictionTravel
208 pages, Hardcover
Published January 18, 2022
About the author
Jim Hinckley
22 books44 followersTelling America's story. Inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. Sharing the adventure. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America.
We do this with books, 23 published to date including Route 66: 100 Years, Here We Are ... On Route 66, Backroads of Arizona, The Big Book of Car Culture, Ghost Towns of the Southwest, Murder and Mayhem on The Main Street of America: Tales From Bloody 66, Ghost Towns of Route 66, and The Illustrated Route 66 Historical Atlas. And we do it with the weekly Coffee With Jim podcast on Podbean, an official Route 66 centennial program. This as well as presentations made internationally illustrate why author, historian and humorist Jim Hinckley has earned the reputation of being a master storyteller.
We do this with books, 23 published to date including Route 66: 100 Years, Here We Are ... On Route 66, Backroads of Arizona, The Big Book of Car Culture, Ghost Towns of the Southwest, Murder and Mayhem on The Main Street of America: Tales From Bloody 66, Ghost Towns of Route 66, and The Illustrated Route 66 Historical Atlas. And we do it with the weekly Coffee With Jim podcast on Podbean, an official Route 66 centennial program. This as well as presentations made internationally illustrate why author, historian and humorist Jim Hinckley has earned the reputation of being a master storyteller.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 21, 2022
Don’t we really all want to get our kicks on Route 66? It’s just so iconic and endlessly fascinating to many of us, which is why I was happy to get an advance copy of this book. It is much as expected—filled with stories of many of the stops on the route and wonderful photographs. The author has dug deep into history and fully researched each stop’s history and presented us with tidbits of the kind of history that many of us enjoy. It’s a very good coverage of each location and the balance between text and illustrations is great.
I think this will have a lot of appeal to American history buffs. There’s enough here to entice you to go further if that’s what rocks your boat, and everyone else can just settle back and dream we’re riding down Route 66, eating at diners, and staying at motels with neon signs to welcome us.
I think this will have a lot of appeal to American history buffs. There’s enough here to entice you to go further if that’s what rocks your boat, and everyone else can just settle back and dream we’re riding down Route 66, eating at diners, and staying at motels with neon signs to welcome us.
January 30, 2022
Not quite the book I was expecting, this offers rather dry historical write-ups to key places along Route 66 – nothing unifying the cities to give one enveloping social history of the roadways concerned, nothing about what it's like to drive it, just the local history. So what did I learn? Well, that Cuba was on the Route, for one. Some sections, such as the one concerning caves Jesse James potentially, but probably didn't, hide out in outside Stanton, Missouri, easily show the richness and quirky possibilities of the book, but they never really took flight in my mind. Also, having so many wonderful architectural photos with not one caption was a bit irritating.
August 5, 2022
I must admit that I enjoyed this travel book more than I thought I would. I learned about Blackburn College in Illinois (Internet told me it’s one of 10 working colleges in the US) and that Collinsville Illinois has a catsup bottle water tower. Brooks catsup used to be the leading brand in America (internet says it is now produced in Canada). Harry Houdini made his debut as a spiritualist in Galena Kansas’ opera house. Glenrio, Texas is a popular ghost town with a Welcome Center in New Mexico! The precursor to the defunct TWA was Transcontinental Air Transport (travel by train at night and plane by day, oh my) which is credited for Grants New Mexico (Internet tells me Oklahoma is part of it too). Holbrook, Arizona has a funny/sad execution invitation story that had President McKinley issue a 30 day stay to George Smiley. I bet George didn’t find it funny.
Although this book is informative, the information is oddly dispensed and a lot of the photos need to be identified. It’s weird to read about a historic hotel and an accompanying photo be about a totally different hotel. That alone forced me to go down a few google rabbit holes.
Although this book is informative, the information is oddly dispensed and a lot of the photos need to be identified. It’s weird to read about a historic hotel and an accompanying photo be about a totally different hotel. That alone forced me to go down a few google rabbit holes.
April 9, 2022
Travel books are comfort books. They’re there to take you on a journey—always appreciated—and show you new places. Or, old places you can’t get enough of.
Here We Are… on Route 66 belongs to the latter category.I think I read a decent chunk of Route 66-related books, and I’m still coming back for more: there are so many attractions, so many cool places, and signs.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
Here We Are… on Route 66 belongs to the latter category.I think I read a decent chunk of Route 66-related books, and I’m still coming back for more: there are so many attractions, so many cool places, and signs.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
January 24, 2022
If this doesn't inspire wanderlust, nothing will! This is a well-organized, useful guide to notable small towns and stops along Route 66, from its origin outside of Chicago to its terminus in LA. The route is documented with obvious affection for the history and Americana along the way and would be a great start to designing one's own trip!
There is a generous number of photographs, both current and historical, that make this equally appealing for armchair travelers. The variety of landscapes along the route is amazing! This would be a great gift for travelers and fans of America's motoring history and would be a great roadmap for a trip, either real or virtual.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
There is a generous number of photographs, both current and historical, that make this equally appealing for armchair travelers. The variety of landscapes along the route is amazing! This would be a great gift for travelers and fans of America's motoring history and would be a great roadmap for a trip, either real or virtual.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
February 11, 2022
Unfortunately I wasn't a fan, I found it pretty dry when the Route itself has so much life in it - the style didnt suit the subject. I also struggled with the column style layout, the font, the lack of maps within a travel book.
That said, some of the photography was decent.
That said, some of the photography was decent.
February 20, 2022
Although I haven’t driven the full length of Route 66, I am a pretty big fan, and I have quite a collection of books, maps, and magazines (yes, there was a “Route 66” magazine published quarterly) about the Mother Road. So I was eagerly anticipating reading (and adding to my collection) “Here We Are . . . on Route 66: A Journey Down America’s Main Street” by Jim Hinckley.
So this book is definitely different from all of the guidebooks out there. For one, there is very little about the tourist destinations that make Route 66 interesting and unique. This book is mostly a history of a sampling of small towns along the route. Although Mr. Hinckly usually starts with explaining the alignment(s) of Route 66 through town, the rest of each feature is mostly about the history of the town, from it’s founding to its rise and fall (and sometimes re-rise as Route 66 becomes more popular). Some of the information is quite repetitive – the further west we move, we find out that each town started out as a Native American trail, then a railroad stop, and finally a mother road stop on the highway. Other than a few hotel histories (and a tourist trap or two), very little has to do with the road, other than causing a rise and fall in the towns’ fortunes. The pictures are wonderful – some are very evocative of what the road looks like today, others are historic pictures and postcards – but all of the pictures are uncaptioned, leaving one wondering what we are looking at.
Overall an interesting addition to the Route 66 library, but it leaves one wanting more. And if one is looking for a guidebook, there are better options out there.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Quarto Publishing Group – Motorbooks via NetGalley. Thank you!
So this book is definitely different from all of the guidebooks out there. For one, there is very little about the tourist destinations that make Route 66 interesting and unique. This book is mostly a history of a sampling of small towns along the route. Although Mr. Hinckly usually starts with explaining the alignment(s) of Route 66 through town, the rest of each feature is mostly about the history of the town, from it’s founding to its rise and fall (and sometimes re-rise as Route 66 becomes more popular). Some of the information is quite repetitive – the further west we move, we find out that each town started out as a Native American trail, then a railroad stop, and finally a mother road stop on the highway. Other than a few hotel histories (and a tourist trap or two), very little has to do with the road, other than causing a rise and fall in the towns’ fortunes. The pictures are wonderful – some are very evocative of what the road looks like today, others are historic pictures and postcards – but all of the pictures are uncaptioned, leaving one wondering what we are looking at.
Overall an interesting addition to the Route 66 library, but it leaves one wanting more. And if one is looking for a guidebook, there are better options out there.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Quarto Publishing Group – Motorbooks via NetGalley. Thank you!
January 30, 2022
"Here We Are ... on Route 66" by Jim Hinckley provides a delightful description of the history of 32 of the towns along the famous Route 66. Each of the 8 chapters in this book focuses on one of the states that Route 66 passes through: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Rather than a current guidebook to the Route, this book is a window into the past of each of the towns covered. Nearly every page has a colorful picture or two that celebrates the history of locations on this thoroughfare. The entries on Holbrook and Winslow (both in Arizona) were particularly nostalgic to me. (Also Santa Fe and Amarillo to a lesser degree...) I was slightly surprised that neither Chicago nor Saint Louis were covered. Though, this is reasonable since clearly each needs and has a number of dedicated books.
My only complaint is that this book did not include any maps. Though digital maps are readily available, so it can be argued that this is not a serious omission.
After reading this book, I am convinced of two things. (1) Even though I have driven pieces of Route 66 in all States except for Kansas, I need to drive the entire route in one trip. (2) While doing so, I need to listen to the audiobook version of the entertaining descriptions of each town as I approach them.
I recommend this book to people interested in Route 66, American nostalgia, and U.S. history in the past 125 years or so.
I thank the publisher and author for graciously providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
My only complaint is that this book did not include any maps. Though digital maps are readily available, so it can be argued that this is not a serious omission.
After reading this book, I am convinced of two things. (1) Even though I have driven pieces of Route 66 in all States except for Kansas, I need to drive the entire route in one trip. (2) While doing so, I need to listen to the audiobook version of the entertaining descriptions of each town as I approach them.
I recommend this book to people interested in Route 66, American nostalgia, and U.S. history in the past 125 years or so.
I thank the publisher and author for graciously providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
March 4, 2022
Here We Are...on Route 66 by Jim Hinckley is a fun tour of Route 66 that is more than simply a guidebook or tour guide. There are more than enough of them anyway. That said, this is a guidebook for those who want to know a little more about the places they visit rather than just the tourist attractions.
I enjoyed learning a little more about the places I've driven through and by so many times. It has been years since I have driven even a short stretch but there was a time I used it quite a bit, and there was just a feeling and mystique that accompanied even the most mundane trips.
I think most readers will enjoy this look at the cities and towns, and of course many of the attractions, that line Route 66. If you are looking for a simple tour book this may not satisfy, but there are a lot of those available. If you want something that is more like a learned companion for your trip, or just to relive past trips from a new perspective, this will be a wonderful addition to your library.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I enjoyed learning a little more about the places I've driven through and by so many times. It has been years since I have driven even a short stretch but there was a time I used it quite a bit, and there was just a feeling and mystique that accompanied even the most mundane trips.
I think most readers will enjoy this look at the cities and towns, and of course many of the attractions, that line Route 66. If you are looking for a simple tour book this may not satisfy, but there are a lot of those available. If you want something that is more like a learned companion for your trip, or just to relive past trips from a new perspective, this will be a wonderful addition to your library.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
February 25, 2022
I reckon I am not the only one who has "Drive down Route 66" on their bucket list, but it's the reason I applied to review "Here we are ...on Route 66". There's a chapter for each state the route runs through and the history of the locations you'll encounter along the way. As other reviewers have said, it is a little dry to read and there can be an overwhelming wealth of information - that's not to my preference but anyone interested in the history of the regions will benefit from the thorough research that went into the book.
From my perspective, I think it would make a brilliant coffee table book. I loved the pictures selected from each part of the route from the beautiful to the bizarre - the devil's rope museum run as a tribute to barbed wire!
Perfect for armchair travelers, history buffs and bucket listers like myself. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.
From my perspective, I think it would make a brilliant coffee table book. I loved the pictures selected from each part of the route from the beautiful to the bizarre - the devil's rope museum run as a tribute to barbed wire!
Perfect for armchair travelers, history buffs and bucket listers like myself. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.
July 11, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, one for I like anything with Route 66, and two I grew up in a town where the Route went throughout the town and was actually Main Street. Yes, our town went through a change because of a freeway and the direction took most traffic away from our town. Here in this book, you find other stories about towns like the one I grew up in ones that made it, and ones that went by the wayside. You also find out about towns along the Route and the history of the town and some interesting facts that are tied to each one. The pictures were helpful for people that don’t know about the Route but this is really a wonderful book at least for me, very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com
January 28, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy!
Here We are… on Route 66 is a compact guide to the national treasure that is Route 66. It is very well organized. Each chapter features a different state along the journey, starting in Illinois and ending in California. The chapters are broken down by key towns and include the well-loved attractions and amusing stops that are crucial for any trip down Route 66.
There’s a beautiful mix of both modern and vintage photography of landmarks and attractions along the way.
While I have not traveled Rt. 66 myself (yet), I look forward to checking out some of Jim Hinckley’s other publications.
Here We are… on Route 66 is a compact guide to the national treasure that is Route 66. It is very well organized. Each chapter features a different state along the journey, starting in Illinois and ending in California. The chapters are broken down by key towns and include the well-loved attractions and amusing stops that are crucial for any trip down Route 66.
There’s a beautiful mix of both modern and vintage photography of landmarks and attractions along the way.
While I have not traveled Rt. 66 myself (yet), I look forward to checking out some of Jim Hinckley’s other publications.
February 12, 2022
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book isn't quite what I expected. It's more of a historical look at Route 66 and some of the cities along the way. There are some pictures and some information from selected cities, largely focusing on the Midwest.
The book doesn't cover as much as I thought and is pretty dry. It also fails to touch on the history of Indigenous peoples in the areas highlighted.
Overall not what I was expecting.
This book isn't quite what I expected. It's more of a historical look at Route 66 and some of the cities along the way. There are some pictures and some information from selected cities, largely focusing on the Midwest.
The book doesn't cover as much as I thought and is pretty dry. It also fails to touch on the history of Indigenous peoples in the areas highlighted.
Overall not what I was expecting.
March 24, 2022
Finished Here We Are On Route 66 by Jim Hinckley. The photography was good and picked up the spirit of the culture surrounding this fabled route. But the writing was very disappointing/ I would have loved to help the author to spend less time on the mundane history, like the date that the post office opened and more on the exciting historical background. More research and more excitement could helped the book so much!
March 23, 2022
This offering from the well respected author on Route 66 was a delight to read. It was informative and colourful. If you have a passion for Route 66 travel and the history of The Mother Road you will enjoy Hinckley’s ‘Here We Are…’
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my review. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend to Route 66 fans.
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my review. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend to Route 66 fans.
March 24, 2022
Route 66 has fascinated me since I got to drive part of it a few years back.
This book is awesome! Chock full of great places and their stories - the history is amazing! This book would be the perfect driving companion!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
This book is awesome! Chock full of great places and their stories - the history is amazing! This book would be the perfect driving companion!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
March 29, 2022
This is a great book to go out and buy if you have dreams of following Route 66! I found it hard to read in the NetGalley app. I downloaded it to the kindle app and that was difficult also. It is simply the way the book is set up.
My husband and I are planning a trip to at least follow parts of Route 66. I will definitely but this book for our planning.
My husband and I are planning a trip to at least follow parts of Route 66. I will definitely but this book for our planning.
January 22, 2022
I received an ARC of, Here We Are....on Route 66, by Jim Hinckley. Known as the Main Street of America, Rt 66 is a national icon. I have been on Rt 66, in Illinois, and I love it. This book has great photos and stories of Rt 66.
April 11, 2023
This would be a fantastic coffee table book because the pictures are beautiful.
There’s a lot of history here but it seems a little disjointed because where you would normally get details about stuff it just stops and moves on.
There’s a lot of history here but it seems a little disjointed because where you would normally get details about stuff it just stops and moves on.
February 20, 2022
Love route 66 and one day want to ride along it, even more now read this amazing book
Brings to life every aspect of route 66 things you wasn't aware of.
Worth reading
Brings to life every aspect of route 66 things you wasn't aware of.
Worth reading
April 1, 2022
Most people know about Route 66 but not like this! This was such a cool book I almost want to get an rv and set off on a road trip! I loved all the pics and the stories!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews