SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Museum (ISM) will be featured in this month’s virtual Centennial Speaker Series session, “Route 66 at 100 – An American Story,” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. The public is invited to join this free session celebrating the rich history and enduring legacy of the nation’s most iconic highway, and registration is available online.
The session will introduce Research Route 66, a collaboration of libraries, museums and archives dedicated to researching and preserving historical records and making Route 66 stories and oral histories accessible for future generations. Participants will discover the stories, documents and artifacts these institutions are collecting and learn how they can contribute to, access and appreciate these valuable collections.
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Amanda Bryden, ISM registrar of history, will discuss the museum’s online database of 100 oral histories about the Mother Road and its “Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66” exhibition, which is currently on display at the museum. The database on the ISM website features videotaped interviews and searchable written transcripts.
The speaker series brings together notable authors, historians and preservation advocates to share research and stories about Route 66. Through presentations and discussions, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the highway’s cultural and historical significance as it approaches its 100th anniversary.
The Centennial Speaker Series is organized and hosted by Research Route 66, a collaboration led by the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, along with archives, libraries and museums located along the route, including the Illinois State Museum. The program is certified as an official Route 66 centennial activity by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.
Research Route 66 works to preserve the historical record of Route 66 and make research materials accessible to the public and stakeholders for education, preservation, and management of the historic corridor.
About the Illinois State Museum
Established in 1877, the Illinois State Museum is a dynamic institution that inspires the exploration of Illinois' past and present to inform and enrich everyday life and promote stewardship of cultural and natural resources. Headquartered in Springfield with branch facilities in Lewistown and Lockport, ISM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a proud member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.
