That former Esso gas station was much more historic than any of the three co-owners could have imagined. They impressed upon me the relevance and importance of Route 66 and the Black experience," said Lathan. "I didn't know its true and rich history until my research brought me into contact with The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. I initially just rented it out and started to cultivate my thoughts in it, as I believed it could be a great tourist shop," she said. I knew it was near the east side but was also close to a lot of historical sites. "I saw this building, an old gas station at 737 East Cook Street. The museum had to close due to COVID restrictions just prior to the 2020 tourist season, and much of the renovation work was able to be completed before the reopening in July 2021.īorn and raised in Springfield, Lathan stumbled upon a historic gas station one day. and made needed repairs and upgrades with an $80,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Stacy Grundy and Kenneth Lockhart purchased the building at 737 E. I wanted him to know the richness of his foundation and make it an integral part of his life," she said. "I'm a researcher by trade, and when I became a grandma, I wanted to make sure my grandson, Blake, knew he came from greatness. Route History, a Springfield museum that opened in 2019 to share stories about the tragedy, resilience and excellence of Black people along historic Route 66, is the brainchild of Dr.
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