History
In 1922, US 66 was originally Route 14, connecting St. Louis and Joplin. In 1926, it was designated a national highway, US 66.
The route between St. Louis and Springfield is an old road. It had traditionally been a Native American trail, known as the "Osage Indian Trail". By the early-to-mid-19th century, settlers laid a telegraph line along the road (it continued south from Springfield to Fort Smith, Arkansas). It then was called the "Wire Road", and later the "Old Wire Road" after the telegraph line came down.
The highway subsequently became part of the Ozark Trail.
After the completion of Interstate 44, Seventh Street west of Duenweg (which had been US 166) became US 66 continuing from Galena, Kansas through Joplin and Duquesne to Duenweg. At Joplin, US 66 continued down what would later be Route 96 to Halltown. With the completion of Interstate 44, US 66 was aligned on I-44 from Halltown to St. Louis, except for the St. Louis area itself, where it continued on Chippewa Street/Watson Road (Route 366) and Gravois Road (Route 30).
When Interstate 55 in Illinois was completed in 1979, US 66 was truncated to east of Duenweg.
Read more about this topic: U.S. Route 66 In Missouri
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