Prairie Fire: Season 4 - Episode 1 - September 2026

We kick of 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, we visit the Gridley Telephone Museum. Home to one of the only working switchboards in the country, this small-town gem is the perfect stop for any history buff.

Route 66 in Illinois

We’ll introduce you to some of the interesting stops–and interesting people–along the Illinois portion of the route, including a stop at the American Giants museum in Atlanta, Illinois…home to a few of the world famous “Muffler Men” you would have been likely to see along Route 66

Illinois Wetlands

The Prairie Fire team takes a tour of some of Illinois' crucial wetland areas to find out why they are so important to the health of our state and how they're being threatened.

Gridley Telephone Museum

Preserving over a century of telephone history, The Gridley Telephone Museum features a fully functional 1946 Kellogg switchboard, which visitors can operate using a display of vintage telephones. 

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Since its reboot, “Prairie Fire” has won nine Mid-America Emmy® Awards, including Magazine Program in both 2024 and 2025 for its first and second season. The fourth season of “Prairie Fire” airs the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:30pm on WILL-TV. Find past episodes on the PBS App or on the Illinois Public Media YouTube Channel.