Order up! History Museum on the Square opens exhibit featuring Route 66 restaurants
Dozens of photographs, vintage menus and even a Mason jar full of barbecue sauce make up the History Museum on the Square's latest exhibit.
"Order Up! The Restaurants of Route 66" opened Wednesday and will run through Sunday, Nov. 6 at the history museum, located at 154 Park Central Square.
The special exhibit features a variety of eateries that welcomed, and some that continue to welcome, travelers along Route 66 to Springfield.
One of the history museum's permanent galleries is "Birthplace of Route 66." Museum curator Joan Hampton-Porter said she was able to use a lot of photos and artifacts from the museum's archives for the special exhibit. In addition, the museum worked with local agencies, including Missouri State University's Special Collections and University Archives.
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"Everybody thinks about the drive-ins and the diners, but they forget things such as fine dining, and so we wanted to let people reminisce about some of the great, old restaurants, many that are no longer here, and to just give a nice retrospect," Hampton-Porter said.
This fine-dining area of the exhibit is one of Hampton-Porter's favorites, specifically menus from establishments like the Colonial Hotel. The now-demolished building was constructed at 205 S. Jefferson Ave. in 1907 and served as a main gathering space during its heyday.
Other fine-dining artifacts include china from the Kentwood Arms Hotel, lent by Missouri State. The building, located at 700 St. Louis St., was built in 1926 and is now one of the university's residence halls, Kentwood Hall. The hotel was known for its Crystal Dining Room, often rented for dances, banquets and political meetings.
"One of the things people don't always (think about) is the African American travelers, business owners," Hampton-Porter said. "Even though Graham's Rib Station wasn't immediately on Route 66, it was very popular and important for the local community and travelers."
More: A look back at Graham's Rib Station: 'We were never segregated. We served everyone.'
Opened in 1932, Graham's Rib Station was a popular Springfield diner for nearly 60 years, located on the corner of Chestnut Expressway and Washington Avenue.
The exhibit includes a Graham's menu, barbecue sauce bottle and a handful of photos of the restaurant's interior. Up a few floors, in the "Birthplace of Route 66" permanent gallery, visitors can view the original Graham's neon sign.
Other restaurants featured in the exhibit include A&W, Steak 'n Shake and Red's Giant Hamburg.
One piece Hampton-Porter is especially excited about is a Robert Eugene Smith painting of Steak 'n Shake. She said the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, believes it's the painting's first public showing.
Smith was a local artist, known for his several murals in Springfield, including the one featured on the side of the building on the corner of South Campbell Avenue and West Walnut Street downtown.
"Order Up! The Restaurants of Route 66" is the first of five exhibits which are a part of the museum's "The Route 66 Series." The series will conclude in 2026 for Route 66's 100th birthday.
"I think this exhibit is so unique in the fact that we've always had the big, broad-ranging exhibits to try to cover everything and this one is really drilling down to a fine point," museum executive director emeritus John Sellars said. "It really has set the tone for what we're going to do over the next four years, so when we come back with an all-encompassing exhibit, which will tie in with our gallery up on the fifth floor, it's going to be better toned."
Future exhibit themes have not been decided, but Hampton-Porter said she imagines ones like hotels and service stations along Route 66.
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The History Museum on the Square is looking for new artifacts, photos and stories to add to the series. Folks who have such to share should contact the museum at 417-831-1976.
Museum admission is $16 for adults, $13 for seniors, military and students, $10 for children ages 4-12, and free for children under 3. The museum recognizes groups over 10 people with an adult rate of $13.
The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Free parking lots are located at the corner of Olive Street and Boonville Avenue.
The History Museum on the Square dates back to 1975, with the original name, the Bicentennial Historical Museum. At that time, the museum was located at 311 College St. Over the years, the museum has moved locations and changed names.
In 2008 the museum moved to its current location downtown and in 2019 the renovated space opened its doors. In 2020, the museum was named the "Best New Attraction for 2019" by USA Today.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: History Museum on the Square in Springfield opens Route 66 exhibit
