Retro Route 66 Unisex Jersey Tee | Victorville, CA: The Key City

Part of Our Route 66 Everytown Collection – Victorville Edition

Unlock the secrets of the Mother Road with this ultra-soft unisex jersey tee, expertly spun from 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. Featuring the slogan "The Key City," this tee celebrates Victorville, California, a pivotal desert stop and a true gateway to Route 66.

Perfect for Mother Road adventurers, desert explorers, or collectors of our exclusive Route 66 Everytown Collection, honoring Victorville's pivotal desert legacy.

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About Victorville, California: The High Desert Gateway to the Mojave

Victorville, the largest city along California's Route 66 corridor in the Mojave Desert, has long served as the "Gateway to the High Desert." Located at the strategic crossroads of major transportation routes between Los Angeles and the Mojave, Victorville evolved from a 19th-century railroad stop into a thriving Route 66 hub that successfully transitioned to the Interstate era.

From Railroad Town to Route 66 Gateway

Victorville's history began in the 1880s as a station on the California Southern Railroad (later absorbed by the Santa Fe Railway). The town was named after Jacob Nash Victor, construction superintendent for the railroad. Its location along the Mojave River made it a natural stopping point in an otherwise arid landscape, and the railroad brought early settlers, ranchers, and businesses to the high desert.

With Route 66's establishment in 1926, Victorville's importance multiplied. Positioned as the primary entry point to the Mojave Desert for travelers leaving the Los Angeles basin, the city became an essential stop where motorists could fuel up, eat, and rest before tackling the challenging desert stretches ahead toward Barstow and beyond.

Route 66's Golden Era in Victorville

During the 1940s and '50s highway boom, Victorville bustled with motels, diners, gas stations, and roadside attractions along its Main Street corridor (the original Route 66 alignment). The city offered full services such as automotive repairs, lodging, entertainment, and supplies, making Victorville far more than a brief stop.

Many travelers spent the night in Victorville before continuing east, and the city developed a reputation as a reliable desert oasis where everything a motorist needed was available. Classic Route 66-era establishments lined what is now known as Old Town Victorville, creating a vibrant main street scene typical of mid-century American highway culture.

California Route 66 Museum

Today's Route 66 enthusiasts shouldn't miss the California Route 66 Museum, located at 16825 D St. in Old Town Victorville. Housed in the historic Red Rooster Cafe building (a former Route 66 roadside eatery), the museum preserves and celebrates the Mother Road's California legacy through extensive exhibits, vintage photographs, highway memorabilia, and artifacts spanning Route 66's history from the 1920s through its decline in the 1970s.

The museum showcases everything from classic neon signs and vintage gas station equipment to personal stories of travelers and business owners who made their livings along the highway. It's one of California's premier Route 66 heritage sites and provides essential context for understanding the Mother Road's impact on desert communities.

Victorville Today: A Thriving Desert City

Unlike smaller Route 66 towns that withered when Interstate 15 opened in the 1960s, Victorville adapted and grew. The city successfully leveraged its strategic location, becoming a major high desert commercial and residential center with over 130,000 residents. George Air Force Base (operational 1941-1992) brought additional growth and diversification beyond highway-dependent commerce.

Modern Victorville balances growth with heritage preservation. Old Town Victorville maintains much of its historic character, with vintage buildings, the Route 66 museum, and nostalgic streetscapes that attract Mother Road travelers. Meanwhile, the surrounding city has developed into a thriving regional hub with modern amenities. For Route 66 travelers, Victorville offers both authentic highway history and contemporary services—a rare combination where the Mother Road's past coexists with a vibrant present.

Product Features:

100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton for premium softness
Side seams for added structure and durability
Tear-away label for comfort
Classic crew neckline with a flattering unisex fit - true-to-size for all day comfort (see size chart for details)
Fulfilled in the USA