The Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit celebrates the rich legacy of the Mother Road and its unique role in shaping the cultural, economic, and social history of the United States. Anchored in Missouri, this exhibit commemorates not only the 100th anniversary of the iconic highway but also the 250th anniversary of the United States. Through immersive experiences, oral histories, public programs, and authentic artifacts, the exhibit offers a dynamic and interactive journey that connects visitors with the vibrant past and enduring spirit of the Main Street of America. Joining this initiative as a strategic partner, the Real Travel app will collaborate with the Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit to integrate innovative digital elements that enhance the visitor experience. By leveraging technology and interactive tools, this partnership will provide new ways to explore and appreciate the culture, history, and heritage of the Mother Road, allowing for deeper engagement with its legacy through a modern and accessible digital approach. Many thanks to Missouri Humanities for their support of this project, which is a certified project of the Route 66 Centennial!
Las Rositas:
Riveting History
Las Rositas - Riveting History is an hour long documentary by directors Shawna Baca and Katrina Parks which explores the legacy and lives of the Latina women who joined the war effort tackling jobs previously occupied by men that required training, endurance and technical skills. While the iconic image of "Rosie the Riveter” from a federal ad campaign designed to encourage women to join the war effort features Rosalind P. Walter of Connecticut, the Rosies were a very diverse work force. Shawna’s interest in the Riveters was sparked by her grandmother Delores Coronel who worked for Lockheed Martin. Katrina has directed and produced documentaries about women’s history in the American West that have been broadcast by American Public Television across the Nation. This project is currently in production. To see some of the short films we have made with Riveters, please visit our YouTube channel. To make a tax deductible donation to the project, please email katrinaparks@mac.com. Many thanks to Brandtivity for the beautiful poster image.
Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road is a three-part documentary series exploring how women overcame gender discrimination and segregation on the Mother Road. The series is currently being distributed by American Public Television to public television stations across the Nation. To learn more about this project and the free educational materials for use in K-12 schools, please visit www.route66women.com.
The Harvey Girls: Opportunity Bound is a documentary film that aired on PBS stations and is currently showing at historic theaters and museums across the country. The film explores how starting in the 1880’s, over 100,000 brave young women, Harvey Girls as they were called, made an unusual decision to leave home and travel west to work as waitresses along the transcontinental railroad opening the doors of both the West and the workplace to women. The Harvey Girls, whose workforce continued to flourish until the 1960s, were true pioneers and set a new standard of excellence for women in the workplace, paving the way for generations of independent young women to come. This is their story!
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