Illinois Public Media

History

Old phones in a museum, Route 66 sign, wetlands and Prairie Fire Logo

Watch the Prairie Fire Season 4 premiere

 Prairie Fire kicks off the season with a special centennial celebration: 100 years of Route 66! Discover some of the stops that still exist along the Illinois portion of this historic route. In the Quad Cities, we visit a few Illinois wetlands and speak with experts about how these precious, yet vulnerable landscapes can be preserved for years to come. Finally, the team visits the Gridley Telephone Museum, home to one of the only working switchboards in the country.
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Dialogue
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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
Roberta Rogers looks at a monument at Quinn Chapel AME Church marking Brooklyn, Illinois, as a historic freedom village and honoring founder Pricilla

Route 66 in Illinois: The history behind ‘America’s First Black Town’
As we wrap up our trip across the 21st state’s portion of Route 66, we take a look at the tiny Village of Brooklyn, located on the cusp of the Mississippi River in the Metro…
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.
Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 4 - Episode 1 - September 2026
The Prairie Fire team celebrates 100 years of Route 66, we take tour of some of Illinois' crucial wetland areas, and we visit the Gridley Telephone Museum for a fun history…
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…