The agricultural refugees made the long journey west on several highways in Texas
and Oklahoma. The most prominent one was old Route 66, although other streets
were used, such as Routes 70, 80, and 82.
Route 66
Whole books have been written about this fabled highway. By passed now by
Interstates 44 and 40, Route 66 began in Chicago, then crossed Illinois, Missouri,
Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, until it ended in California. While Route
66 is now a nostalgic remnant of the 1950's car vacation, it fascinates travelers all
over the world with old motels, drive-in theaters, and downtowns that recall by-gone
America. Oklahoma occupies the greatest portion from the Missouri border by
Joplin all the way to tiny Texola by the Texas border. Many miles of the old road are
still drivable, especially from Vanita to Catousa, Tulsa to Oklahoma City, and from
Oklahoma City to El Reno. In contrast, Texas has the shortest part of the route, and
hardly any of it is drivable, save through the downtowns of the cities along Interstate
40.
Route 70
Running parallel to the Red River in southern Oklahoma, Highway 70 enters
Oklahoma at DeQueen, AK, and leaves the state south of Frederick. It continues on
through the Texas panhandle, where it eventually goes to Clovis, New Mexico. The
landscape on US 70 mirrors that of the Red River Valley: thick forests in the east
giving way to grand prairies in the west. US 70 approximates the route of entry for
the Trail of Tears.
Route 80
This highway is slowly being gobbled up by Interstate 20, so soon it will become
another relic of the automobile age. Therefore, it's definitely worth a look. US 80
threads its say through the heart of North Texas, starting at the Louisiana border. It
is a strong road up until Dallas, where it becomes Fort Worth Avenue. In Fort Worth,
US 80 merges with Interstate 20, which dips southwest to end up in El Paso
(migrants took a more northerly route once in Fort Worth). US 80 makes for a great
road trip as it passes through the most authentic parts of Dallas and Fort Worth.
Route 82
Highway 82 parallels the Red River through North Texas, almost a twin to US 70.
Entering Texas at Texarkana, migrants veered onto US 287 at Wichita Falls when
heading west, where they would eventually meet up with Route 66 in Amarillo. This
highway also briefly parallels the National Road, and the towns it bisects reflect
early Texas settler history.
Road trips are the best way to understand American history, as most of it has been
shaped by the road. Driving down old roads is my favorite type of research!
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"Buffalo Road East-West Hide and Bone
Hauling from 1870-1890"
The Great Depression is the
most researched period in
American history, so books
proliferate. However, as very few
books have been written on
what happened regionally
during this period, some vital
information is missing. While
the following list of books and
websites represents the
material I used for research, it's
in no way comprehensive!
Dust Bowl: The Southern Plains
in the 1930s by Donald Worster
(Oxford University Press, 1979):
Good geographic and
ecological descriptions.
An American Exodus: A Record
of Human Erosion by Dorothea
Lange and Paul Taylor (New
York: Reynal & Hitchcock, 1939):
Great primary source with oral
histories and photos.
Hard Times: An Oral History of
the Great Depression by Studs
Terkel (New York: Pantheon
Books, 1970): Master oral
historian offers vivid first-hand
accounts.
