Illinois Celebrated 100 Years of Route 66

Communities marked the centennial of the historic highway with concerts, poetry, and commemorative trading cards.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Cultural

Illinois Celebrated 100 Years of Route 66

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Illinois communities held the Last 100 Miles Route 66 Festival on October 10 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic roadway. Residents and visitors gathered across various towns to participate in local events and collect commemorative trading cards.

Why it matters

The festival honored the centennial of Route 66, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the final 100-mile stretch of the highway in Illinois. These events served to preserve the legacy of the road by engaging the public with its history.

The festival spanned the final 100 miles of the highway through several Illinois towns. Commemorative trading cards were distributed to mark the 100th anniversary of the road.

The players

Mark Turcotte

He is the Illinois Poet Laureate who performed at the Wildey Theater during the festival.

The Blooze Brothers

They are a musical group that performed a concert in City Park as part of the celebrations.

West End Service Station Museum

This Edwardsville venue served as a key distribution site for the commemorative trading cards.

Wildey Theater

Located in Edwardsville, this theater hosted the performance by the state poet laureate.

The details

Towns including Carlinville, Litchfield, Staunton, Livingston, Hamel, Granite City, and Collinsville hosted various activities. Highlights included a concert by The Blooze Brothers in City Park and an appearance by Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte at the Wildey Theater.

1940s: Soybean compound license plates were produced.
March 2026: An attendee explored the route.
October 10, 2026: The Last 100 Miles Route 66 Festival occurred.

Industry Dynamics

The festival highlights how legacy roadside attractions capitalize on anniversary milestones to drive regional tourism. It reflects a broader trend of leveraging nostalgia to maintain interest in historic American transit corridors.

Local residents and tourists were able to visit distribution sites like the West End Service Station Museum to obtain commemorative trading cards. Attendees could access various town events, including free concerts and performances, throughout the day.

The takeaway

The event serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of early 20th-century American highway travel. Residents interested in regional history can continue to explore local museums and historical sites that maintain artifacts from the era of the classic road.