Route 66 at 100: Community, Culture, and the Power of Preservation
Explore the United States’ iconic highway before summer kicks into high gear.
date & time
Location
Virtual
World Monuments Fund’s work at Historic Route 66 has been made possible, in part, by support from American Express.
For generations, Route 66 has symbolized adventure, mobility, and the promise of discovery. As the Mother Road celebrates its 100th anniversary, join World Monuments Fund (WMF) for a conversation about the legacy of this iconic roadway and how it continues to support communities from Chicago to Santa Monica today.
This engaging virtual panel brings together experts and storytellers to explore how heritage preservation, community-led tourism, and local entrepreneurship are driving economic vitality along the historic highway and empowering communities.
Attendees will uncover overlooked histories and hidden places along the road, see how the spirit of the open road continues to shape American life, and how sustainable travel can help towns and cities along Route 66 thrive.
WMF’s Balanced Tourism Initiative is designed to help prevent the overcrowding, mismanagement, and degradation of heritage sites while maximizing economic and social benefits.
Route 66 at 100: Community, Culture, and the Power of Preservation
Explore the United States’ iconic highway before summer kicks into high gear.
date & time
Location
Virtual
World Monuments Fund’s work at Historic Route 66 has been made possible, in part, by support from American Express.
For generations, Route 66 has symbolized adventure, mobility, and the promise of discovery. As the Mother Road celebrates its 100th anniversary, join World Monuments Fund (WMF) for a conversation about the legacy of this iconic roadway and how it continues to support communities from Chicago to Santa Monica today.
This engaging virtual panel brings together experts and storytellers to explore how heritage preservation, community-led tourism, and local entrepreneurship are driving economic vitality along the historic highway and empowering communities.
Attendees will uncover overlooked histories and hidden places along the road, see how the spirit of the open road continues to shape American life, and how sustainable travel can help towns and cities along Route 66 thrive.
WMF’s Balanced Tourism Initiative is designed to help prevent the overcrowding, mismanagement, and degradation of heritage sites while maximizing economic and social benefits.
About the Speakers
Bill Thomas
Bill Thomas first experienced Route 66 at age eight, riding in his family’s new Chevy Bel Air station wagon from central Illinois to Disneyland in 1963. Today, he serves as Chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and is Economic Development Director for Logan County, Illinois, helping communities leverage the Mother Road’s heritage for renewed prosperity. A graduate of Eureka College and the University of Chicago, Thomas also serves on the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.
Candacy Taylor
Candacy Taylor is an award-winning author, cultural documentarian, and photographer whose work explores the intersections of travel, race, and public history. She is the author of Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America, a critically acclaimed study of how African American travelers navigated segregation through a network of safe spaces. Taylor has conducted extensive fieldwork along Route 66 and across the United States, documenting sites connected to the historic Green Book.
Lisa Ackerman
Lisa Ackerman is an internationally recognized preservation leader and former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of World Monuments Fund. During her tenure, she oversaw global programs and partnerships dedicated to safeguarding cultural heritage, including major initiatives along Route 66. Ackerman currently serves as Executive Director of the Khamseen Foundation for the Translation & Dissemination of Arabic Art and has held leadership roles in both nonprofit and academic institutions.
Jon Buono
Jon Buono is Senior Regional Director for the U.S. and Canada at WMF. As an architect and preservation planner, he brings over two decades of experience across the cultural, nonprofit, and public sectors. He began his career with the National Park Service, managing a portfolio of more than 2,500 historic structures and leading work at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Buono has directed major preservation projects for universities and nationally significant landmarks, including the United Nations Headquarters' renovation.