The Arroyo Seco Parkway Historic District, a highway that once carried Route 66 in Los Angeles County, was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective Feb. 4, according to a National Park Service e-mail.
According to the e-mail, the historic district covers California Highway 110 from a four-level interchange in Los Angeles to East Glenarm Street in Pasadena. (Map is here.)
Because the Arroyo Seco already was established as a Scenic Byway, I had assumed it was already listed on the National Register. But I found was described as National Register-eligible. At least, until now.
Here’s a video that shows a typical trip on the Arroyo Seco, aka the Pasadena Freeway:
The National American Engineering Record gives a good overview of the highway’s significance:
The Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway) was the first divided-lane, high-speed, limited-access road in the urban western United States and the first stretch of road for what would become the extensive Los Angeles freeway network. The approximately six-mile initial stage of the 8.2-mile roadway, completed in 1940,was envisioned as both a scenic road traversing the Arroyo and a vital traffic conduit linking the expanding cities of Pasadena and Los Angeles. Engineers and planners attempted to blend landscaping and native plants into the overall design while implementing safety features appropriate for high-speed travel. Construction proceeded alongside the installation of the federally assisted Arroyo Seco Flood Control Channel, necessary to ameliorate seasonal flooding.
The Arroyo Seco contains some limitations — namely, its tight and short access ramps. But it’s also a joy to drive. If you’re traveling Route 66, I wouldn’t pass it up.