Adventurers, Crusaders, and Entrepreneurs: The Women of Illinois Route 66

Award-winning author Cheryl Eichar Jett tells the tales of women along the 300 miles of Illinois Route 66 in a program entitled Adventurers, Crusaders, and Entrepreneurs: The Women of Illinois Route 66.

Hear the fascinating stories of a women-only group of determined young people traveling and camping the length of Route 66, a famous labor and rights activist, and more than one courageous female theater/ballroom operator.

For the past decade, Jett has been researching stories of women along the 2,400-mile length of historic Route 66. Her years of presentations are based on that research, as is her new book, Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66, which will be released in March 2026.

Program Date: Saturday July 19th, 2025 at 3pm at the Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space, 623 E. Adams Street in downtown Springfield. Part of Visit Springfield’s “History Comes Alive!” annual series of events.

Photo of Cheryl Eichar Jett at a recent Edwardsville presentation courtesy Steve Rensberry.