Getting Your Kicks on Route 66: Tales from the Mother Road in Illinois

Program Type:

Humanities

Age Group:

Adult
  • Registration is required for this event.
  • Registration will open on February 1, 2026 @ 9:00am.
  • This event is for registrants age Over 18 and above.

Event Details

One hundred years ago, Route 66 was born. The famous federal highway was commissioned in 1926 and stretched 2,400 miles to connect Chicago to California. Over the next century, millions of people traveled that ribbon of highway. Route 66 witnessed depression and war and boom times and decline. The experiences it offered were as diverse and complicated as America itself. 

This presentation explores the history of Route 66 and the experiences of everyday people who lived, worked, and traveled along the Mother Road during its heyday. Through this presentation you will: 

  • Experience some of the 100 oral histories compiled by the Illinois State Museum providing insights of travelers’ own words of what it was like “back in the day.”
  • Learn about discrimination faced by Black travelers on Route 66 and the strategies they employed to ensure safety and dignity while traveling. 
  • Learn about the differences in road travel in the mid-20th century vs. today. 

At the end of the presentation, attendees will be invited to share their road trip memories and/or memories of Route 66.

Registration is required. Register online or call Adult Services at 815-534-6173.