Before it was a modern freeway, California's State Highway 99 was "the
main street of California," a simple two-lane road that passed through
the downtowns of every city between the Mexican border and the Oregon
state line. Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street turns
back the clock to those days when a narrow ribbon of asphalt tied the
state's communities together, with classic roadside attractions and
plenty of fun along the way.
Highway 99 documents the birth, growth, and transformation of the
highway; the gas stations, motels, restaurants, and attractions that
flourished and declined by the roadside; and the communities,
personalities, and historical events that made their mark on the
highway. From the migrations of the Dust Bowl to the birth of the
Bakersfield Sound to the foundation of America's fast-food culture, the
history of California has happened around Highway 99, and Highway 99:
The History of California's Main Street brilliantly depicts that
history.