The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road

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  • Vintage black-and-white photo of smiling women riding in a decorated vehicle labeled “Under Construction—Travel at Your Own…”

  • Woman in a gray faux-fur coat standing beside a door displaying a Historic California U.S. Route 66 End sign

  • Black-and-white group portrait of the Santa Fe Indian Band from Winslow, Arizona, with musicians holding brass and woodwind instruments and women seated with drums.

  • Neon sign reading “Cabins No Vacancy” glowing red and green at the Boots Motel in Carthage, Missouri

  • Black-and-white photo of photographer Dorothea Lange sitting on a vintage vehicle while holding a large camera.

  • Older woman with short white hair sitting in a colorful room filled with toys and decorative objects 

Photos on this page courtesy of Assertion Films, author John Butte, the Library of Congress, the Old Trails Museum, Missouri State University Libraries and artist Mary Lowden.

Click here to see the series Trailer.

A three-part documentary series exploring how women overcame gender discrimination and segregation on America’s most beloved road. The film series has been broadcast on PBS stations across the country through American Public Television.  You can now see the films through Streaming, and you can like us on Facebook where we have a list of upcoming events, read our latest news, and support this project with a tax-deductible donation to support our oral history work.

We also invite you to explore this web-site where you can read the about the project and then explore the story map and the lesson plans.

What People Are Saying

Making Change - Documentary looks at the connections between women and the Mother Road

— Albuquerque Journal

The Women Who Bucked Gender Roles Along Route 66
In a time of misogyny and limited opportunities, Route 66 offered women a chance to make their mark on the American experience. 

— KCET, Los Angeles

More Press

New Feature: Lesson Plans for Teachers

Route 66 provides an excellent lens for learning about American History in the 20th century.

  • Black-and-white portrait of Fabiola Cabeza de Baca in New Mexico outdoors beside a tree, wearing a blouse and long skirt.

    Early Days on the Mother Road

  • Vintage portrait of Springfield, Missouri entrepreneur Alberta Ellis

    The Legacy of Segregation

  • Portrait of a smiling U.S. Navy servicewoman wearing a dark uniform and sailor hat

    World War II & Post-War Era

  • Black-and-white historical photo of the Gypsy Coeds riding in a vintage open car decorated with luggage and handwritten travel-slogans.

    Women on the Move

  • Black-and-white vintage photo of a man and woman posing beside a decorated military truck with a Red Cross emblem.

    Native American Experiences

  • Vintage black-and-white portrait of a smiling young woman seated in a chair

    Japanese Incarceration

Black-and-white promotional image of five smiling women in vintage clothing behind a sign reading “Harvey Girls: Opportunity Bound.”

Other Projects By Katrina Parks

Katrina’s first documentary “The Harvey Girls: Opportunity Bound” explores how one of the first all female American labor forces opened the doors of the American West and the workplace to women.

See The Film
Santa Monica Route 66 End of the Trail sign at a busy outdoor market on the Santa Monica Pier

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