The Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitor’s Center in Bloomington explains the impact the so-called Mother Road had on Illinois and the other states along the historic route. (Photo courtesy McLean County Museum of History)

It’s long been a source of pride, but officials knew more could be done to trumpet just how much Route 66 is appreciated and woven into the fabric of McLean County.

A year ago, the wraps were taken off a new gesture of gratitude. The end result: The Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitor’s Center, which is a new permanent exhibit within the McLean County Museum of History.

Since its inception on April 25, 2015, Cruisin’ has provided a new showcase for the county’s rich history. Tourism officials also point out the exhibit has bolstered the local economy by bringing in a new wave of Route 66 history aficionados who might have otherwise passed right over the county.

With a year now under its belt, staffers within the museum are celebrating the first year of Cruisin’ with a four-hour program that kicks off with a free concert by members of the Sounds of Illinois Chorus. Other festivities include refreshments, giveaways and free admission to the museum.

As the visitor center’s name suggests, it also pays homage to one of Illinois’ most notable figures: President Abraham Lincoln. One wing of the exhibit portrays Lincoln’s travels, and it serves as an intriguing juxtaposition to the chrome-laden auto era that was a hallmark of Route 66’s heyday.

While a permanent Route 66 exhibit had long been considered, actual planning for Cruisin’ picked up in earnest about three years ago and, as the saying goes, there was no turning back.

Displays provide a glimpse into how the so-called Mother Road impacted Illinois and the other seven states that hosted one of the first intricate pieces of infrastructure. While the federal government decommissioned Route 66 in 1985, the 2,451-mile stretch of highway remains a source of intrigue for history buffs all across the globe.

Beth Whisman, executive director of the McLean County Museum of History, said the built-in recognition of Route 66 has brought a wave of visitors to her venerable organization, which has been a fixture in the region long before Route 66 even existed.

“We’re the latest member to embrace our roots, and it’s been overwhelmingly successful in this first year,” Whisman said.

According to figures crunched by the museum as the visitor center’s one-year anniversary approaches, more than 16,000 people have stopped in to view Cruisin’.

If the guest registry is any indication, some of the visitors are coming from far and wide places. More than 300 people reported living outside the U.S., and an additional 900 visitors live outside Illinois.

Crystal Howard, director of the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the influx of visitors has bolstered the local economy, pumping new tourism dollars into the Twin Cities.

At a minimum, Howard and other officials within the Bloomington-Normal area estimate at least $500,000 has gone into local establishments because of the visitors stopping to visit Cruisin’, and efforts to share the county’s pride as a participation in the historic thoroughfare do not appear to be slowing down.

“The golden era of Route 66 may be gone, but what’s left is a piece of old-school Americana, filled with everything from burger joints to historic landmarks,” Howard said. “McLean County is home to several of these.”

The Sprague Super Service Station, which is the largest of three remaining two-story fuel buildings still remaining along the highway, is among the Route 66 spots within the county to be featured in the Cruisin’ exhibit.

The meteoric success of Cruisin’ could mean future efforts to embrace the Route 66 heritage. One possibility, Whisman said, is potentially promoting the stretch of Route 66 in and near McLean County as a so-called White Carpet Corridor.

Many portions of Route 66 in northern Illinois are referred to as the Red Carpet Corridor — a reality best represented by an upcoming 10th annual festival that includes participation by 12 communities in the area, from Joliet to Towanda.

Further downstate, areas of Route 66 are frequently referred to as the Blue Carpet Corridor.

“It’s something we’re considering, down the road, no pun intended,” Whisman said of the White Carpet Corridor naming. “We do see (Route 66) being an important engine for us many years into the future.”

AT A GLANCE

WHO: Organizations within the 12 communities that dot 90-mile stretch from Joliet to Towanda

WHAT: 10th annual Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 7; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 8

WHERE: each of 12 communities have various activities
INFORMATION: www.il66redcarpetcorridor.org

— Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 reaches one-year milestone —