There's More to That A Smithsonian magazine special report Among the first interstates, the beloved roadway that connected Chicago to Los Angeles still looms large in popular culture and our collective imagination Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images via Library of Congress and public domain The famed Route 66 has had many lives . It emerged in an era when cars were new but roads were dangerous and intended for horses. But there were those who imagined a highway that would connect the cities of the Midwest to the West Coast — and Route 66 was born. During the Great Depression, the roadway helped migrants find their way to new jobs in the West. During World War II, it facilitated the transportation of munitions and armaments en route to the Pacific theater. Later, it became a busy thoroughfare for Americans wanting to explore their country. Storefronts, towns, gas stations, cafes and much more grew up along its edges.…