US Route 20

[dhermann1]

This website represents an organization promoting a stretch of US 20 that runs through central New York State. But as the brochure points out, the highway runs from Massachusetts all the way to Oregon. It was designated as the first transcontinental highway system in 1927. US 66 only runs across the western half of the country. US 20 goes from sea to shining sea. As the attached brochure points out, the route is full of classic mid 20th century communities that somehow still hold onto their identity. The stretch that runs across New York State is just full of beautiful little villages and towns, and scenic countryside.
The brochure says that the path was originally a footpath used by Native Americans, which is why it has such an organic feeling, even today. The fact is, the Native Americans used it because it was a deer trail. So it can truly be said that nature created this beautiful pathway.
http://www.nyroute20.com/Index.asp

 

[Flivver]

Here in Massachusetts, Route 20 passes through many interesting and historic towns.

During the 1920s, Henry Ford used to visit the antique shops along Route 20 in Central Mass to acquire artifacts for the museum he was building in Dearborn MI. He restored the Old Wayside Inn and several other buildings along Route 20 in Sudbury, then paid the state of Massachusetts a large sum of money to re-route Route 20 around his restoration projects. By traveling on the original Route 20 past the Wayside Inn, you get a sense of what the entire stretch of road must have been like in the 1920s.

Route 20 still has many antique shops across Massachusetts. And the famous Brimfield Antiques Market is situated along a one mile stretch of Route 20 in the town of Brimfield.