Getting Your Kicks on Route 66: Tales from the Mother Road in Illinois
A Road Scholar Program by Erika Holst
When
Feb 26, 2026
7:00pm–8:00pm
Cost
Free
One hundred years ago, Route 66 was born. The famous federal highway was commissioned in 1926 and stretched 2,400 miles, connecting Chicago to California.
Over the next century, millions of people traveled that ribbon of highway. Route 66 witnessed depression, war, 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.
It is informed by a collection of 100 oral histories recently compiled by the Illinois State Museum.
The sign for the start of the historic Route 66 highway in downtown Chicago.
Attendees will hear in travelers’ own words what it was like to eat, sleep, and drive Route 66 “back in the day.” They will learn about discrimination faced by Black travelers on Route 66 and the strategies they employed to ensure safety and dignity while traveling. And they will 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.
This presentation aligns with the Illinois America 250 Commission's theme “We the People.” This theme invites us to explore ideas of who has been included and who has been left out of the nation’s promise, as well as how people from all backgrounds have shaped and reshaped what it means to be part of “the people.” The Illinois America 250 Commission's goals are to uplift local stories, places, and programs; build pride; and showcase how Illinois brings the ideals of the Declaration of Independence to life.
This event is Free and Open to the public. For more information, please contact Jo Keillor at jo.s.keillor@gmail.com.
Learn more about Erika Holst, this program, and how to book it here.
Host Organization
Supporter
This presentation is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250.
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Contact
Suite 650, 125 South Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60603
312.422.5580 312.374.6787 Fax
Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Illinois Humanities respects the privacy of its audiences and will at no time sell or distribute personal information to any party not directly affiliated with Illinois Humanities and its programs.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illinois Humanities, our partnering organizations, or our funders.
© Copyright 2026 Illinois Humanities