An old car parked outside the Hackberry General Store in Hackberry, Arizona, along Route 66, photographed in 2004 by Carol M. Highsmith. The worn vehicle, faded signs, and simple wooden building reflect the era when Route 66 was a lifeline for small desert towns, serving travelers heading west or back east. Places like Hackberry depended on highway traffic for survival, offering fuel, food, and a brief rest in an otherwise remote landscape. As newer interstates bypassed these routes, many towns faded, leaving behind scenes like this.