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Route 66 Oral History Project
100 Years on Route 66
Launched in 1926, Route 66 grew to be one of the most travelled highways in the nation crossing 2,400 miles and eight states from Illinois to California. In a rapidly changing nation moving from train freight to trucking, Route 66 stretched diagonally across both large cities and small rural communities bringing with it opportunity for travel and commerce. Not only is its cultural impact immeasurable, it also played a critical role in helping the nation mobilize during the Dust Bowl migrations and World War II. Route 66—the Mother Road—as it was called by John Steinbeck, became a cultural symbol of freedom and an economic boon in the United States. Today, it lives on as a unique tourist attraction and a vibrant reminder of shared history.
About the Project
The Illinois State Museum Route 66 Oral History Project is a collection of 100 oral histories conducted with people who lived, worked, and traveled along Route 66 in its heyday, as well as with people who have worked or are working to preserve and interpret the Mother Road.
Museum team members conducted these oral histories between 2024 and 2025 in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the 1926 commissioning of Route 66. We hope they will be used to inform future research and scholarship about Route 66 and its impact on America’s people, history, and culture.
Research and Citation
The oral histories encompass a range of topics related to Route 66 in its heyday. Additionally, several interviews address recent and current preservation, promotion, and travel along the road.
The oral histories are organized alphabetically. Each interview is available in both video recording and written transcript formats. Use the word search function to call up all interviews related to your search term. Each interview’s transcript is also word searchable.
Possible Search Terms
Accommodations
California
Eating
Gangsters
Great Depression
Great Migration
Green Book
Historic Preservation
Hitchhiking
Mishaps
Music
Roadside Attractions
Safety
Tourism
Working
World War II
Acknowledgements
This project was made possible through the dedicated support of the Illinois State Museum Society and a generous grant from the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, showcasing the strength of collaboration and commitment to preservation.
The Illinois State Museum is grateful to each of the interviewees who shared their time, knowledge, and memories with this project. We are honored to be the stewards of your stories.
Contact information
For questions about the Illinois State Museum Route 66 Oral History project please contact Erika Holst, Curator of History:
Erika.Holst@Illinois.gov
217-871-5065