The Guardian of Route 66

The Guardian of Route 66

By Brad Wu

When researching the interstate highway and Route 66, I tried to find some untold stories behind it. With my teacher Mrs. Trepanior’s help, I was able to contact 96-year-old Angel Delgadillo, “The Guardian Angel of Route 66”.

The interview was conducted on a winter day 2024, in Mr. Delgadillo’s barbershop in Seligman Arizona. Through half a century, the barbershop has witnessed various stages of the town, its booming business at Route 66’s heyday, its demise with the signage on the new freeway, and its rebirth thanks to Mr. Delgadillo’s perseverance to strive for historical preservation.  Sitting in his father’s 1926 barber chair, Mr. Delgadillo talked to me about his life from the Great Depression all along, like a historical book opening up in front of me, page by page, so vividly and full of wisdom.

We must never lose sight of our common humanity, our common values, and our common decency that is brought by mended relationships. Today, Route 66 and Interstate 40 represent a mended relationship, born out of necessity and destruction, but grown into a turning point in the preservation of history itself, a masterful teaching of lessons from new and old, the unshakable conviction of the human race, and the endeavors to make US a better entity.

Angel Delgadillo Interview Part 1: Life of Yesterday

Angel Delgadillo Interview Part 2: Interstate Highway

Angel Delgadillo Interview Part 3: Fight for Right

Angel Delgadillo Interview Part 4: Route 66 Rebirth

Angel Delgadillo Interview Part 5: Route 66 Today

Angel Delgadillo Interview Part 6: Cultural Heritage 

Interview Part 7: Secret Of Long Happy Life

Angel Delgadillo Interview Part 8: For Young People

Based on the personal interview and with other research sources, I created a historical documentary, which has received awards and accolades, including the Best Oral History Award from Arizona History League, the Best History Award from Southwest Oral History Association, and National History Day.