Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66 Through Illinois Voices

With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 approaching in 2026, the Illinois State Museum has unveiled a special project celebrating the lives and memories connected to the historic “Mother Road.”

The museum recently launched an online database featuring 100 recorded oral histories from travelers, residents, and historians who have lived, worked, or journeyed along the iconic highway. The Route 66 Oral History Project includes both video interviews and searchable written transcripts, offering a firsthand look at what the road has meant to generations of Americans.

"These interviews provide a fascinating glimpse into what it was like to travel Route 66 back in the day, as well as perspectives from people who are working to promote the road today,” said Erika Holst, ISM curator of history and co-organizer of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. “We know that Route 66 students and enthusiasts are going to learn so much from these interviews. There are so many details to be found that you just can’t find in books.”

Commissioned in 1926, Route 66 became known as the shortest and most scenic route from Chicago to Los Angeles, serving as a major artery to the West before the construction of the interstate system. Roughly 300 miles of the route run through Illinois, largely paralleling today’s Interstate 55.

Interest in Route 66 was revived in the late 20th century, and the highway now draws millions of visitors from around the world each year.

“The interviews run the gamut from childhood memories of traveling the road on family vacations to a state trooper patrolling the road at night,” said Amanda Bryden, ISM registrar of history and project co-organizer. “They range from humorous and hopeful to tragic and tense. We are honored to be stewards of these stories and are excited to share them with the public.”

The Route 66 Oral History Project was made possible through support from the Illinois State Museum Society and a grant from the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program.

Established in 1877, the Illinois State Museum continues to inspire exploration of Illinois’ past and present, with locations in Springfield, Lewistown, and Lockport. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.

For more information, visit illinoisstatemuseum.org/welcome-ism-springfield/illinois-route-66.html.