Route History, a Springfield museum that opened in 2019 to share stories about the tragedy, resilience and excellence of Black people along historic Route 66, is the brainchild of Dr. Gina Lathan.
“I’m a researcher by trade, and when I became a grandma, I wanted to make sure my grandson, Blake, knew he came from greatness. I wanted him to know the richness of his foundation and make it an integral part of his life,” she said.
Lathan and co-owners Dr. Stacy Grundy and Kenneth Lockhart purchased the building at 737 E. Cook St. and made needed repairs and upgrades with an $80,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The museum had to close due to COVID restrictions just prior to the 2020 tourist season, and much of the renovation work was able to be completed before the reopening in July 2021.
Born and raised in Springfield, Lathan stumbled upon a historic gas station one day. “I saw this building, an old gas station at 737 East Cook Street. I knew it was near the east side but was also close to a lot of historical sites. I initially just rented it out and started to cultivate my thoughts in it, as I believed it could be a great tourist shop,” she said.
“I didn’t know its true and rich history until my research brought me into contact with The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. They impressed upon me the relevance and importance of Route 66 and the Black experience,” said Lathan.
That former Esso gas station was much more historic than any of the three co-owners could have imagined. It is an interesting and important fixture for both Route 66 and Black people.
Currently known as ExxonMobil, Esso was originally Standard Oil and was an unusual company for its time. It not only welcomed Black travelers to the stations, it also provided opportunities for Black people to become entrepreneurs by allowing them ownership of franchises.
Esso also promoted the Green Book, a publication that allowed Black travelers to drive to their desired destinations safely by advising where it was safe to purchase gas and food and even find lodging. A major exhibit at Route History is devoted to stories related to the Green Book.
After the 2021 reopening, Lathan, Grundy and Lockhart kept their eyes on the prize. They retraced Route 66 from Chicago to southern Illinois to cultivate oral, and even some visual, histories from those who have been a part of it. They have hosted events and collaborated with other sites and will be a part of the new Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds that will be open year-round.
Grundy noted that not only have they completed the exterior mural and outside expansion of the museum, “We’ve been working on something huge and exciting!” Route History is launching a new, interactive virtual experience in July. It tells of the Black experience driving along Route 66 in Illinois. It gives a bird’s-eye view of Route 66 through Chicago, Joliet, Bloomington, Springfield, Brooklyn and East St. Louis, which were deemed safe and welcoming to Black travelers.
Lathan expressed the importance of the new exhibit: “We wanted to build upon the Black experience and what would’ve been next – that was STEM. So, we’ve integrated technology into the tourism experience through the creation of a virtual reality, dubbed the Route History Virtual Experience.”
Visitors will experience a WWII veteran on his motorcycle, a female Blues singer with her band, a Black baseball team on their bus and a family traveling from Mississippi to Chicago.
This was made possible through partnerships with the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway and the DCEO.
The three curators are also extremely excited about the $500,000 state funding recently received from the Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant Program. This grant will fund the future buildout of the museum and its new complex. Lathan confirmed, “Yes, there is a new building and land involved, and the complex will be completed in 2024.”
Though they were not at liberty to divulge specifics yet, “We’re in the final stages of completing the deal, and we’ll announce before the end of this year,” Lathan said.
Dr. Pamela Woodson of Springfield is an entrepreneur, author, freelance writer and former professor at Lincoln Land Community College and Benedictine University at Springfield. She is the owner and lead consultant of Pamela Speaks Training & Consulting.
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This article appears in Juneteenth 2023.
