Remembering Route 66 by Leslie Goddard, PhD

The name evokes images of gas stations, mom-and-pop motels, quirky attractions, and adventure on the open road. In this nostalgia-packed lecture, historian Leslie Goddard, Ph.D., explores the history of Route 66, the iconic road that linked Chicago to Los Angeles from 1926 until its closing in the mid-1980s. Learn why Route 66 remains so indelibly associated with the lore of the American road trip. What was Route 66 like at its pinnacle –and what is it today?

Leslie Goddard is an award-winning actress and scholar who has been presenting history programs for more than twenty years. She holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, specializing in American studies and U.S. history, as well as a master’s degree in theater. A former museum director, she is the author of three books on history and currently works full-time as an author and public speaker.

FVGS meetings are free and open to the public.