A fun-filled look at the history and attractions of California's legendary Highway 101. Now the road has the utilitarian designation of U.S. Route 101, but originally it had a name of romance and mystery - El Camino Real, or the King's Highway, built on the trail pioneered by the Spanish friars and marked by mission bells on the roadside. Illustrated throughout with historic photographs, Highway 101: The History of El Camino Real tells the picturesque story of this great highway and the restaurants, motels, gas stations, and roadside attractions that made it memorable to generations of travelers. From Disneyland to the historic Madonna Inn to the Avenue of the Giants, Highway 101 catalogs the great landmarks along the road, plus the fascinating personalities, from Dorothea Lange to Jelly Roll Morton to Cecil B. DeMille, whose lives intersected with the history of the route. A colourful history of Americana, commerce, travel, and fun, Highway 101 captures the magic of the open road. AUTHOR: Stephen H. Provost is an author and journalist who has worked as an editor, columnist, and reporter at newspapers throughout California. His previous books include Highway 99: The History of California's Main Street; Fresno Growing Up: A City Comes of Age 1945-1985; and the fantasy novels Memortality and Paralucidity. SELLING POINTS: . A pleasure-filled nostalgia book on the great American highway experience. . Fun historic photos and histories of roadside attractions, fast-food stands, restaurants, motels and hotels along the highway. . Countless historical details never before collected in one book. 33 colour and 172 b/w photographs
Industry Reviews
"The road we know today as U.S. Route 101 is one of the most historic highways in the nation, and one of the most scenic. A trip on this extraordinary road offers countless wonders: the glamour of Hollywood, the beaches of Southern California, the history and beauty of the Spanish missions, the many diversions of San Francisco, the Sonoma wine country and the grandest sight of all: the redwood forests. A definitive history of U.S. 101 in California is long overdue. In this book Stephen Provost has documented the fascinating story of the highway, from the days of Spanish exploration to the present. His text is both informative and entertaining, and the photographs are well chosen. After reading his book, the author hopes you will be inspired to venture out and begin your own explorations of the El Camino Real, the 'highway of kings.' Enjoy!"-- "Dan R. Young, founder and moderator of the Old Highway 101 Facebook group"
"This history's focus on not just road development but the cultural and economic times which led to many changes creates a thoroughly engrossing story. Vintage photos and illustrations throughout provide the kind of embellishment and attraction that lends to this book's appeal to leisure audiences with any interest in California history and roads as well as to those with a special interest in studying U.S. highway system developments. Very highly recommended as a thorough, in-depth and lively account that holds potential to reach a wide audience."-- "California Bookwatch"
"This is a work of serious historical and geographical research. Sites I only remember passing in childhood, such as the streetcar diner north of Buellton, others I spent entranced days roaming, such as Jungleland in Thousand Oaks, have taken on depth and luster I would never have suspected. . . . The sheer detail, revealing painstaking and even loving research, is awe-inspiring."-- "David Lloyd Sutton, San Francisco Book Review"
