Hidden history of Route 66 reveals the women who built and powered the Mother Road

Show Me Today - The Voice of Missouri · Apr 22, 2026 · 11m

For decades, the story of Route 66 has been told through road trips, roadside diners, and Americana nostalgia. But a new book by Cheryl Eichar Jett takes a different turn, uncovering the women who didn’t just travel the Mother Road, they ran it, shaped it, and kept it alive through some of the most transformative moments in American history. From the Great Depression to wartime industry and the rise of car culture, these are the stories that have been hiding in plain sight. The name of the book is “Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and…