"ROAD TO THE CENTENNIAL" SCHEDULE -- OCT. 9-11, 2025

THREE DAYS THIS YEAR!

SPEAKERS, NETWORKING, AND SO MUCH MORE!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9

6:30-8:30 Singo (music bingo) w/prizes - Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66, 9 W. Cass St.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

8:30-11:00am REGISTRATION - Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St.

9:00-9:15am WELCOME - Joliet Mayor D'Arcy, Kate Gillmann, Debyjo Ericksen

9:15-10:15am - Rhys Martin, KEYNOTE SPEAKER Route 66: The Next 100 Years

10:15-11:00am - Kate Gillmann - Route 66 Grant Projects in the First 100 Miles

11:00am-12:00pm - Jim Hinckley - VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: A 65-Year Relationship with Route 66

12-1:30pm LUNCH ON OWN

1:30-2:30pm Greg Peerbolte - Joliet History, Prison, and Attractions

2:30-3:30pm Peter and Tracy Flucke - Looking at Historic Route 66 Through Bicycle and Pedestrian Eyes

3:30pm-4:30pm - Amy Steidinger, Old Joliet Prison: If Those Walls Could Talk

4:45-6:15pm Greg Peerbolte - Old Joliet Prison tour, 1125 Collins St., Joliet, $20 fee.

FRIDAY NIGHT

6:45-8:00pm Dinner on own

8:00pm Roxy, 1017 S. State St., Lockport - Flatbed Fords,  Eagles Tribute band, which includes Ron Romero. Sponsored by the City of Lockport. Free to conference attendees, $20 for public.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

8:30-11:00am - REGISTRATION Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St.

9:15-10:15am - David Schwartz, Roadwork Ahead: A Future for the Mother Road

10:15-11:15am - Amy Bizzari, Culinary History of Route 66

11:15-11:30am BREAK

11:30am-12:30pm - Jim Featherstone, Olivia Golaszewski - The Secured Road

12:30-2:00pm LUNCH ON OWN

2:00-3:00pm John Weiss - Illinois Route 66 Preservation Efforts

3:00-4:00pm Scott Dahl - Looking Ahead to the Route 66 Centennial in Springfield

4:00-4:30pm CLOSING Giveaways; Passing of the mop

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12

Roadwork Ahead: The Exhibition, a post-conference fine art photography event by David J. Schwartz

Art on 66 Gallery, 208 N. Water Street, Wilmington. Opening Reception: 11am-3pm