Route 66 was considered to be one of the first continuously passable long-distance roads (US Highway) to the west coast of the United States. It was built in 1926 and was originally 2451 miles long, or 3945 kilometers. Today, however, it can no longer be driven continuously and consists only of individual sections. It now serves as an attraction for tourists and nostalgics. The diagonal routing of Route 66 began in Chicago (Illinois) and ran through eight state highways to Santa Monica (California).