Route 66 traveling exhibit coming to Springfield, Missouri

A traveling exhibit commemorating the centennial of Route 66 will arrive in downtown Springfield, Missouri, on April 30.

The “Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit” will debut at the Gillioz Gallery, 325 Park Central East, in Springfield, reported the Springfield News-Leader.

The exhibit features nearly two dozen large-scale interpretive panels, audiovisual mini-documentaries and educational components highlighting the diverse stories of people connected to Route 66.

The exhibit draws from documentarian Katrina Parks’ PBS series, “Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road.” It aims to show how Route 66 has shaped American history, culture and identity through the experiences of those who lived, worked and traveled along it.

“From the glow of neon signs to the steady hum of tires on open pavement, every mile of Route 66 tells a story,” Parks said in the announcement. “For nearly a century, the road has drawn visitors from around the world and continues to hold countless stories waiting to be uncovered. The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit brings these stories to life and highlights the humanity of the Mother Road from a variety of perspectives.”

Here’s a video from when the exhibit stopped in Lebanon, Missouri:

The exhibit will then move to Cuba, Missouri, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 3 at the Crawford County Historical Society, 308 N. Smith St.

Additional stops in Missouri will include the Red Cedar Inn Museum and Visitor Center in Pacific on Sept. 16-17 and Red Oak II in Carthage on Sept. 18-20.

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