As part of a series of commemorative projects related to the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66, the Town of Normal launched an online store of Commemorative Route 66 Merchandise. (normalil.gov/Route66Store)
“The store offers merchandise featuring the Town’s Route 66 Centennial Logo with Abraham Lincoln standing next to a Rivian R1 truck, tipping his hat in honor of 100 years of adventure on the road,” says Town of Normal Cultural Arts Director Beth Whisman.
The online store opening coincides with the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival (May 1-3) and the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration (April 30). To purchase merchandise, visit Normalil.gov/Route66Store
“People across the country … around the world … are celebrating Route 66,” explains Whisman. “Normal is excited to welcome visitors from near and far to honor the legacy of the historic highway. We’re proud to be a stop along the Mother Road and appreciate its impact. We want everyone to have the chance to take a piece of Normal with them. The online store lets people choose exactly what they want.”
Thanks to a partnership with locally operated CM Promotions (a Geiger company), the Town incurred no costs to offer the online, on-demand store. The Town receives no profit from the store. Items are priced to cover the cost of online store fees. Merchandise includes a variety of apparel items and accessories, including throw-back merchandise such as a Stanley® classic vacuum insulated bottle, diner mugs and more.
In addition to the store merchandise, the Route 66 Centennial Logo graces merchandise and giveaway items for the Town’s Route 66-related celebrations, including the June 7 Retro Roadside Picnic.
About the June 7 Centennial Celebration / Retro Roadside Picnic
The Retro Roadside Picnic is planned from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 7 at One Normal Plaza. The event is part of a countywide-decades party coordinated by Visit BN. During the “Cruisin’ Through the Century” weekend, communities lining the McLean County stretch of Route 66 will celebrate. The Town’s celebration tells the story of Route 66 in the 1950s. Expect vintage vibes and sounds, games, activities and picnic fare.
About the logo
This is the logo “Celebrating 100 Years of Adventure on Route 66 Through Normal, Ill. 1926-2026.”
The Town worked with Rivian and local designer and illustrator Mike Mahle (mikemahle.com) to create a unifying visual identity celebrating 100 years of adventure on “the Mother Road” in our community.
The logo nods to the charm, humor and pop culture kitsch surrounding Route 66, following the trend of famous historical figures being humorously misquoted or misrepresented via internet memes.
“Rivian has also made an impact on our community, and we were thrilled when they joined our effort,” adds Whisman. “The logo reflects the legacy of the past, the vibrancy of the present and the promise of the future.”
