Get Your Route 66 Kicks at the Barter Boat in Springfield

Apr
13
Apr 13 – May 1, 2026
Where

Springfield Library Center on April 13 (community preview)

4653 S. Campbell Ave.

Route 66 Centennial Kickoff on May 1

Park Center Square in Downtown Springfield

In celebration of the Route 66 Centennial, the State Historical Society of Missouri presents Barter Boat—a traveling art project built on object exchange, storytelling, and community connection.

Before we dock downtown Springfield on May 1, join artist and University of Missouri professor Desireé Moore at the Springfield Library Center on April 13, 7-8 p.m. for a community preview. Learn how the project works, hear stories from past trades, and find out how you can contribute to a new oral history archive. Whether you have a small trinket or a legendary Route 66 story, we want to hear from you!

Want to try it out? Bring an item to barter with us during the talk!

Then join us May 1 to see the Barter Boat in action as we kickoff Route 66 celebrations! The Barter Boat will be at Park Center Square in Downtown Springfield for the festivities!

Desireé Moore is an Assistant Professor of Digital Storytelling and Film Production at the School of Visual Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  Barter Boat is a collaborative project by Anna Elliott, Desireé Moore, and Robin Schwartzman. Sponsored by SHSMO in partnership with Missouri Humanities and the Missouri Humanities Trust Fund.