Michael Campanelli‘s traveling exhibit of photographs from Route 66 will be making a stop at the Illinois Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac starting March 7.
However, that’s not the big news. On to the press release:
“There was a call put out to all the Route 66 states that photographer Michael Campanelli was looking for a permanent home for his largest Route 66 exhibit, and we answered the call,” said Patty Ambrose, executive director of the Historic Illinois Route 66 America’s Byway. “This exhibit has been featured in several of the western states … Our organization now has stewardship of this display, and we want to share it with Route 66 visitors starting their journey here in Illinois — where the road begins.”
I briefly met Campanelli during the Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., last year. Here’s a photo of him with several of his works:
It’s great that the Illinois museum, which is still in relative infancy, keeps improving. This exhibit is a terrific addition, and will help draw tourists into Pontiac and spark more interest in the Mother Road.
Sounds like quite a win for the museum. I’ve been trying to figure out how to include what’s left of the the Chicago to Springfield stretch into a trip to Springfield some time. I’d like for the kids to be able to say they traveled part of the road. The way this museum is shaping up, a stop there will have to be part of the plans.