Route 66 quickly grew in use and legend and came to be called "Main Street USA" and "The Mother Road" by travelers who needed services never before known. Blacksmith shops became garages, sidewalk gas pumps grew into service stations, hotel coffee shops grew into roadside restaurants, and rooms to rent became tourist courts. Times were hard, money was scarce, and automobiles were crude, creating hardships for motorists. Surviving these problems created the spirit and memories of Route 66 that will live forever.
