Fun Facts: Santa Monica, California
- Santa Monica became a permanent part of Route 66’s history on January 1, 1936. As Los Angeles grew, the original terminus was extended from downtown L.A. all the way to the corner of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards in Santa Monica.
- Contrary to popular belief, the official end of Route 66 is not at the Santa Monica Pier. Federal highway regulations required that highways connect to other highways rather than dead-end, so Route 66 was routed to meet U.S. Highway 101 and California State Highway 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway) at Lincoln and Olympic. This junction allowed travelers to continue their journey seamlessly onto these major coastal routes.
- The pier has long been celebrated as the “traditional” or “spiritual” end of Route 66.In 2009, past California Historic Route 66 Association president Dan Rice trademarked and installed the iconic “End of the Trail” sign on the pier for Route 66’s 83rd birthday.
- Today there are signs posted at Lincoln and Olympic that designate the End and the Beginning of Route 66 in California.
POINTS OF INTEREST
- Pier Sign
- Santa Monica Pier
- Loff’s Hipperdrome
- 276 Santa Monica Pier
- Camera Obscurra
- 1450 Ocean Ave
- Georgian Hotel
- 1415 Ocean Ave
- Hot Dog on a Stick
- 1633 Ocean Front Walk
- 66 to Cali Colorado Ave
- Santa Monica Pier
- Will Rogers Plaque Corner of Santa
- Monica Blvd and Ocean Blvd
- Pacific Park
- 380 Santa Monica Pier
- Mel’s Drive-In
- 1670 Lincoln Blvd
- End and Start Signs
- Olympic and Lincoln Blvd Intersection
We hope you have enjoyed your ride and do stick your toes in the Sandy Beaches of California’s Sun Kissed Route 66!