The Bloomington-Normal Black History Project is offering a virtual reality tour of Route 66 history, telling the story of the Mother Road through the eyes of African Americans and Black-owned businesses during the Jim Crow and civil rights era.
The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Mount Pisgah Church in Bloomington, with a presentation and lunch included.
The tour will visit cities like Chicago, Bloomington, Springfield, Brooklyn, and East St. Louis. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear and learn about the historical events pertaining to African American history through virtual reality.
“Brooklyn was one of the first Black incorporated towns in Illinois, so there will be some stories behind that as well,” said Jeff Woodard, director of marketing and community relations for the McLean County Museum of History.
Woodard said the tour details some of the trials and tribulations that people of color faced along the historic highway.
“What it means to me is an opportunity just to share," he said. "This is an opportunity for people to get together, share some content and have some time to decompress and share the experiences about how we feel about what we’ve learned, and also what we can take away and share with others.”
A grant associated with the Route History Museum in Springfield makes the event free for a limited number of attendees. The Route History Museum is the only brick and mortar museum in the United States that uses technology to highlight the significance of Black experiences along Route 66 using technology.
The Bloomington-Normal Black History Project and the Route History Museum share some core values that led to their collaboration, Woodard said.
“We basically have a shared mission, which is to tell the stories of local African Americans in McLean County and also throughout the state of Illinois,” he said.
Woodard said the virtual reality experience also offers an opportunity to connect with individuals on a different level than standard teaching methods. “
You will have an opportunity to experience some of the trials, tribulations, and also some of the relationships that people built with each other,” he said, adding the virtual reality experience is something someone can do during regular hours at the museum in Springfield.
“This concept, we can take the content out of the museum to other areas of the community and share it. You are always welcome to take the virtual reality experience in Springfield,” Woodard said.
