Pre-Route 66: The Ozark Trail
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Before Route 66, the Ozark Trail had a rich history, originating as a major trail used by the Osage people in Missouri. It evolved into the Old Wire Road during the Civil War, named for telegraph wires that ran alongside it.
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The Ozark Trail Association formalized the trail from 1913 to 1925 as a network of roads stretching from St. Louis, Missouri, to Romeroville, New Mexico. This trail became part of the National Old Trails Road, leading to Los Angeles. These early roads were the backbone of regional travel until Route 66 was commissioned in 1926.
In 1928, There Was a Footrace Across America: The Bunion Derby
The Bunion Derby was a 3,400-mile transcontinental footrace from Los Angeles to New York City, held in 1928. Organized by sports promoter Charles C. Pyle, it promised a $25,000 prize and used much of the unpaved Route 66. The race featured 199 runners from various backgrounds and included a vaudeville-like roadshow for entertainment. Andy Payne, a Cherokee Nation member, won the grueling race in 573 hours, averaging six miles per hour over 84 days. He used his prize money to pay off his family’s farm mortgage.