Also known as the Main Street of America or the Mother Road, Route 66 was one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway System. Established on November 11, 1926, it became one of the most famous roads in America, running from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2448 miles (3940 kilometers). Route 66 served as a major path for those who migrated West, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and it supported the economies of the communities through which the road passed. People doing business along the route became prosperous due to the growing popularity of the highway. The city of Williams lies on the route of Historic Route 66, and it is known as "The gateway to the Grand Canyon".