Photographer launches Route 66 promotional project June 2, 2011

Christian Gideon, a photographer who hails from Springfield, Mo., is undertaking a “Is Route 66 Dead?” multimedia project in an effort to draw more young people to the Mother Road.

Here’s a video he created that introduces us to the project:

Gideon’s Kickstarter project seeks to raise $15,000 in 90 days. He writes:

Myself along with 3 friends are setting out to prove Route 66 is still very much alive.  Our goal is to show a generation of young Americans how beautiful this country is when you leave the interstates, suburbs, and fast food chains behind.  We will be documenting our journey through photographs-from Chicago to Santa Monica, California.  Equal parts discovery, adventure, and introspective – it’s a sleepover at a complete strangers house, spontaneous side trip, follow your heart road trip. Follow us as we seek to rediscover America’s lost highway – not just for ourselves but for a generation.  We’re traveling the Mother Road as it was meant to be done.  Just our cameras, conversation, and companionship.   We hope to turn back the clock to a time when this country was full of dreamers – and inspire it to become that once again. [...]

Your funding will aid us in our travel expenses, publishing a coffee table book of  photographs and stories from our journey, as well as a behind the scenes DVD.  We’re not trying to get rich-we’re trying to start a movement.

Those who contribute to the Kickstarter project will receive an array of prizes ranging from exclusive e-mail updates ($5 pledge), limited-edition T-shirt ($50), limited-edition “Is Route 66 Dead?” book ($350), behind-the-scenes DVD ($500) and joining the crew for a 300-mile portion of the journey ($2,000).