‘More Than Just a Road’: Illinois Communities Celebrate Route 66’s Centennial

Big House Ballgame at Old Joliet Prison kicks off Route 66 festivities

Actor Bill Murray, who is part of the ownership team, also was present at the exhibition game that returned baseball to the prison for the first time since 2002.

‘More Than Just a Road’: Illinois Communities Celebrate Route 66’s Centennial

‘More Than Just a Road’: Illinois Communities Celebrate Route 66’s Centennial Medill Illinoi… Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:53 Capitol News Illinois by Chloe Park, Medill Illinois News Bureau and Capitol News Illinois  LIVINGSTON — For 40 years, Felipe de la Cruz Tenorio of Majorca, Spain, dreamed of driving America’s famed Route 66. He still recalls working at a nightclub as a young man and watching Harley-Davidson riders roll in wearing Route 66 jacket…

Big House Ballgame at Old Joliet Prison kicks off Route 66 festivities - The Times Weekly

The Joliet Slammers played the Gateway Grizzlies before fans celebrating Illinois and Hollywood history. At the Old Joliet Prison, made famous by the “Blues Brothers” film, the Joliet Slammers baseball team staff were generously handing out tickets to a ballgame recently, helping kick off the statewide celebration of the Route 66 centennial. But at this so-called Big House Ballgame, you might have needed a “Get out of jail free card” to leave. T…

'More than just a road’: Illinois communities celebrate Route 66’s centennial

Driving down Illinois’ stretch of Route 66 offers a glimpse into the people and establishments that kept the road alive.