Happy 100th Birthday, Route 66!

Join Barbara J. Barrett at Bloomington Public Library and “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” as she celebrates the attractions and allure of the “Main Street of America” from its controversial birth in 1926 to its centennial this year, 2026.

Beginning in Chicago, the official start of “The Mother Road,” you will discover how and why Route 66 was established while exploring the roadside culture & appeal of this open road. You’ll “visit” vintage motels such as the Blue Swallow in Tucumcari, NM, and the Wigwam in Holbrook, AZ; gawk at odd roadside attractions like the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, IL, the Big Blue Whale of Catoosa, OK, and the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX; and “savor” classic American road food as served at family-owned restaurants like the White Fence Farm in Romeoville, IL, the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, IL, or the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, TX along the more than 2,400 miles of Route 66 before reaching the Santa Monica Pier – the terminus or “End of the Trail.”

Barbara J. Barrett, MPA, CAE is a History Edutainment (Educational Entertainment) speaker who makes automotive, architectural, manufacturing, music, and world history “come alive” in a fascinating and entertaining way. She has presented programs for C-SPAN American History TV, the Studebaker National Museum, the Gilmore Car Museum, community colleges, church groups, private clubs, public libraries, & senior living communities to name a few. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the University of Illinois and a Master degree in Public Administration (MPA) degree from Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL.

Questions about this program can be emailed to Sara at reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org.