Springfield, IL. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – As the 100th anniversary of Route 66 approaches, historians at the Illinois State Museum are on the lookout for individuals to share their stories about the iconic “Mother Road.” Whether these tales come from the perspective of a traveler, a business owner, or someone who helped build the legendary highway, the museum is eager to record and preserve the personal accounts of people with a connection to the scenic byway.

Route 66, which operated from 1926 until its decommissioning in 1985, remains a significant part of American history. The Illinois State Museum plans to document and share these oral histories to commemorate the upcoming centennial. Anyone with memories or stories related to Route 66 is encouraged to contribute to this project, helping to keep the legacy of the great road alive for future generations.

“These interviews will help illustrate the significance of this important transportation achievement,” said Erika Holst, the museum’s curator of history. Specifically, museum historians would like to interview:
  • People who have memories of driving on Route 66 or traveling the highway with family or for business.
  • Those who were involved or whose families were involved in operating restaurants, hotels, or auto service businesses along the route.
  • Anyone who participated in the building, maintenance, or rerouting of the Mother Road.
  • First responders who worked along Route 66.
  • Those who have any other firsthand experiences with Route 66 to share.
“This project also gives us an opportunity to preserve memories of Illinois citizens for posterity,” said Amanda Bryden, registrar for the history collections of the Illinois State Museum and Illinois historic sites.
Anyone interested in being a part of the project can contact Judy Wagenblast at jwagenblastp@gmail.com. The oral history project is funded in part by the National Park Service.
Video recordings of the interviews and transcriptions will be made available to the public in an online database as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of Historic Route 66 in 2026.