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Illinois Route 66 Centennial: Free Event Set for November 10
Springfield, IL – Illinois residents will have a free opportunity to explore 100 years of Route 66 history next month as the Illinois State Museum prepares to share stories, historical records and per
By Jenna Hartley · 2026-10-23T22:57:11.597Z
Springfield, IL – Illinois residents will have a free opportunity to explore 100 years of Route 66 history next month as the Illinois State Museum prepares to share stories, historical records and personal memories from America's legendary Mother Road.
According to the Illinois State Museum, the virtual presentation, titled "Route 66 at 100 – An American Story," will take place Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with online registration available.
100 Years of Route 66 History The presentation is part of the Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series, commemorating the highway's 100th anniversary in 2026.
Amanda Bryden, the museum's registrar of history, will highlight an online collection featuring 100 oral histories from people connected to Route 66.
The collection includes videotaped interviews and searchable written transcripts documenting the highway's cultural significance.
Bryden will also discuss the museum's "Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66" exhibition, currently on display in Springfield.
Preserving America's Mother Road The session will introduce Research Route 66, a partnership involving museums, libraries and archives working to preserve historical materials associated with the highway.
Participants will learn how historical photographs, documents, artifacts and personal accounts are collected and made accessible to future generations.
The initiative includes participation from the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership.
How to Attend the Free Event The virtual presentation begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, and advance online registration is available.
Residents interested in participating can register through Research Route 66's speaker series website .
Additional historical materials and interviews are available through the Illinois State Museum's Route 66 collection .
The event offers residents across Illinois an opportunity to discover the people and experiences that helped shape one of America's most recognizable highways.