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GRANITE CITY, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois dignitaries have commenced the festivities for Route 66’s 100th anniversary, celebrating a century of this legendary highway that has long connected towns and cities across the nation.
On Monday, Governor JB Pritzker, along with other state officials, inaugurated the Centennial celebration of the famous “Mother Road.” He emphasized the road’s rich history and its vital role in boosting tourism and driving economic development.
In honor of this milestone, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is distributing approximately $4 million to local tourism organizations. This funding aims to enhance and promote Route 66 activities throughout Illinois.
Planned projects include the creation of an Abraham Lincoln Penny Sculpture in Lincoln and the erection of a 14-foot statue of the former president in Granite City. Springfield is set to revamp its iconic Giant Slide, while Joliet plans to convert an old prison into a baseball field.