Historic Route 66 Workshop

From 1981 to 1991, I photographed sections of U.S. Highway 66—known as the “Mother Road”—the historic route that first connected Chicago to the Pacific Ocean.

In 2027, I’ll be leading a road trip along the most interesting stretch of 66: Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Oatman, Arizona, creating fresh and compelling images of this iconic highway. Along the way, we’ll explore many of its classic roadside attractions and enjoy sharing the journey.

There are road trips, and then there is historic Route 66—the kind of adventure that begs for a full tank of gas, a camera within reach, and a playlist that sounds best with the windows down. Stretching across deserts, small towns, neon-lit streets, and wide-open sky, this historic highway feels like a moving gallery of Americana. Every mile offers something worth pulling over for: a weathered motel sign glowing at dusk, a chrome diner sparkling in the sun, or a lonely stretch of pavement disappearing into the horizon.

For photographers, the Mother Road is a dream made of color, texture, and story. The route is famous for its vintage gas stations, classic cars, giant roadside attractions, and iconic moments. The fun is in the peeling paint beside bright murals, retro signs against blazing blue skies, and forgotten roadside stops that feel larger than life. One minute you’re framing a giant muffler man or a quirky roadside whale, and the next you’re chasing golden-hour light across desert landscapes that seem built for wide-angle photos. Across the route, photographers still seek out classic landmarks and nostalgic small-town scenes that capture the enduring spirit of the American highway.

What makes the journey unforgettable is the feeling of being in constant motion through living history. Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 and became one of America’s most legendary highways, a ribbon of road linking East to West over roughly 2,400 miles. Even after being decommissioned, to be replaced by Interstate Highways such as I-40, it remains a symbol of freedom, nostalgia, and the classic American road trip. Today, its mix of preserved landmarks, and quirky attractions continues to draw travelers who want to experience the road as much as document it.

Photographing all of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica would take at least two weeks, with three weeks offering a far more rewarding pace. To keep this adventure focused and visually rich, this journey will zero in on the stretch I find most photogenic: the dramatic landscapes, neon nostalgia, and endlessly cinematic roadside scenes of New Mexico and Arizona.