Illinois Public Media

History

Image of Route 66 right outside of the Art Institute

Route 66 in Illinois: Starting out in Chicago

 Route 66, America’s most famous highway is turning 100 this year, and Illinois is bound up in more than 300 miles of its stories. The 21st Show is highlighting some notable and historic places on the Illinois-portion of the Mother Road. To begin their statewide journey, the show traveled to the start of Route 66 in the heart of downtown Chicago. 
IPM Newsroom
Kassa Overall performs at the Gallery Art Bar on September 26 at 8pm
Illinois Classical
Illinois Classical 90.9

Your home for Classical and more in Central Illinois.
Prairie Performances
The oil painting Young Man Playing the Piano (1876), by Gustave Caillebotte, showing a man playing piano near a window during daytime.

Themes and Variations
This week on Prairie Performances, we listen to three pieces that can be classified as “themes and variations”—a musical form that offers variety to the listener while…
Dialogue
two men speaking on microphones

Pritzker and Bailey offer contrasting views of Illinois’ present and future under their leadership
Dialogue is sharing recent 21st Show interviews with Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and his opponent Darren Bailey (R).
The 21st Show
The Ace Sign Museum in Springfield collects signs that were on Route 66 in the past and restores and showcases them to preserve the history of the iconic highway.

Route 66 in Illinois: Springfield museum restores old road signs from Mother Road
As we continue to tour across the 21st state’s portion of Route 66, we’re making a stop at the Ace Sign Museum in Springfield, which restores and collects signs of all…
The 21st Show
During Prohibition, Benld's location on Route 66 made it a hub for mob bootlegging activity. The city's Coliseum Ballroom (pictured here in 1949) became a little Las Vegas in that era.

Route 66 in Illinois: How a small town became a mob hub during Prohibition
A book released earlier this year explores mob activity in the Prohibition era along Route 66 specifically through the lens of Benld, Illinois.
The 21st Show

Route 66 in Illinois: American Giants Museum keeps Americana alive
Atlanta, Illinois is the next stop on our Route 66 journey. The American Giants Museum restores iconic large size statues of figures in American culture.
Prairie Fire

“Prairie Fire” nominated for four Mid-America Emmy® Awards
Season three of WILL-TV's popular magazine show was nominated for four regional Emmy® Awards.
Mid-American Gardener

Late-Summer Garden Bounty: Dahlias, Vegetables and Beautiful Blooms
Shane and Chuck join Tinisha with an abundance of garden produce and beautiful blooms. And Kelly stops by to discuss caring for mums.
State of Change

Small gestures to make a big difference in preserving our planet
We visit a zero-waste general store, a garden bringing a community together in a Chicago food desert, a program protecting pollinators, and advice to increase sustainability…