SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - When Route History opened up in 2019, it was created to sell souvenirs for those traveling Route 66 for vacation. But when Dr. Stacy Grundy and the team there recognized how little people knew about the history of the historic highway, they pivoted to an educational museum.
"We were able to tie in the Negro Motorist Green Book, which was a book that black travelers used during segregation so they could know what businesses they could stop at," said Dr. Grundy. "We were also able to integrate a lot of unknown Springfield black history, so we opened 2019, and then we just kind of evolved ever since."
While Route History is a brick and mortar museum, the team also brings some of their exhibits to schools and other parts of Illinois. This includes their virtual reality headsets, which allow you to experience traveling on Route 66 during Jim Crow era America. Visitors experience being profiled by police, driving through sundown towns, and visiting sanctuary cities for Black Illinoisans.
Dr. Grundy says the success the museum experiences allows them to feed right back into the community. She aims to work with other business owners to find their services or promote the work they are doing.
"Businesses and economics are a key part of the health of a community and so as business owners, we not just looking for a profit, we want to pour into workers," said Dr. Grundy.
The Route History Museum is featured on an Illinois-wide campaign to honor key places and parts of Route 66 in the state. For more information on the route history museum, visit their website.
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