U.S. Route 66 was an American federal highway — part of the original 1926 interstate highway system. At the height of its use in the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of Americans migrated west or vacationed on the road. These travelers experienced joys and hardships during their travels. Much of this social history is not archived, but also not lost. Rather, it lives in the memories of the migrants and tourists who used the road until its demise in 1985. Later tourists seeking remaining portions of the old road created new memories.