Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit in Springfield, MO
In celebration of both the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and America’s 250th birthday, the “Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit” (“Exhibit”) will bring the stories and images of the Mother Road to life across Missouri. The Exhibit includes two stops in the state kicking off in Springfield, Missouri from April 30–May 2 followed by Cuba, Missouri from May 3–Sept. 14, 2026. Then in the fall the exhibit will travel to Pacific, Carthage and St. Louis. All events are free and family-friendly.
The Exhibit features nearly two dozen large-scale interpretive panels, audiovisual mini-documentaries, and educational components highlighting the diverse stories of Missourians connected by Route 66.
“From the glow of neon signs to the steady hum of tires on open pavement, every mile of Route 66 tells a story,” said exhibit organizer and documentarian Katrina Parks, of Assertion Films. “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.”
Drawing from Parks’ acclaimed PBS documentary film series, Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road, the traveling exhibit invites visitors to explore how Route 66 shaped American history, culture, and identity through the stories of the people who lived, worked, and traveled along it.
The Exhibit will debut at the Gillioz Gallery located at 325 Park Central East in Springfield, Missouri on Thursday, April 30th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. At 3. p.m., join Kaisa Barthuli longtime program director for the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program in conversation with Irv Logan and Elizabeth Calvin, who share the story of their grandmother Alberta Ellis and her hotel, a vital stop for Black travelers listed in the Green Book. At 4 p.m., there will be a special presentation by Kathleen Seale, SHSMO Rolla and the Springfield coordinator, on the history of the Rotoscope film process developed by Missouri Route 66 entrepreneur Rowe Carney Jr., of Rolla, and his colleague Tom Smith of Urbana.
At 5 p.m., Township and Range will give an acoustic performance, followed by a panel discussion at 6 p.m. led by documentarian Katrina Parks, educational content developer Kari Kussmann, Missouri Route 66 Association CFO Larry Sernyk, and Missouri Route 66 Association President Jeremy Morris.
On Friday, May 1, the exhibit will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk. School groups are encouraged to visit, and an art activity is planned. Please RSVP to joy@gillioz.org. The Missouri Jazz Orchestra will play that evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for attendees. On Saturday, May 2nd, the exhibit will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
