The History Museum on the Square invites visitors to explore the spirit of roadside adventure with its newest temporary exhibit, Roadside Gems: Rediscovering Route 66's Cultural Attractions. Opening July 2 and on display through September 14, this is the fourth installment in the museum's five-part Route 66 exhibit series leading up to the national Centennial Celebration of the historic highway in 2026.

This summer's exhibit shifts the Route 66 Exhibit Series focus from places where travelers ate, slept, and filled up their gas tanks to why families piled into their car and turned the American road trip into a cultural phenomenon. Through captivating photographs, ephemera, and primary sources from the museum's extensive collection, Roadside Gems uncovers the vibrant cultural attractions that made Springfield a must-see stop on Route 66.

Visitors will discover everything from the Jewell Theater and the rise of the nationally televised Ozark Jubilee, to the thrills of hidden caves, lively public parks, and even the early days of the Springfield Cardinals baseball team. Together, these stories paint a picture of a city rich in entertainment, natural beauty, and Americana charm, truly a destination worth the drive.

“We're thrilled to showcase the cultural heartbeat of Springfield along Route 66,” said Sean FitzGibbons, Executive Director of the History Museum on the Square. “Our previous exhibits explored the essentials of a road trip; places to eat, sleep, and fuel up. But Roadside Gems is about the why. It celebrates the quirky, the majestic, and everything in between. These are the stops that turned a road trip into an adventure. When people say the journey is just as important as the destination, these cultural gems are what they mean.”

Roadside Gems is included with regular museum admission and is supported in part by generous series sponsors Ozark Studies Institute and O'Reilly Auto Parts. The Route 66 exhibit series continues into 2026 with a final chapter that will coincide with the centennial celebration of America's most famous highway.