A Springfield mural inspired by Route 66 is receiving national recognition after earning two honors at the 2025 National Mural Awards.
The mural, titled “Hitchhikers,” was created during last year’s Overlay Art and Culture Festival in Springfield. The piece was curated and facilitated by Overlay and installed live during the festival. Organizers say the mural serves as a tribute to Route 66 and the generations of travelers, dreamers and adventurers connected to the historic roadway.
The project received Regional Gold for the Midwest as well as the National Silver Award, placing the Springfield installation among the country’s most celebrated mural projects this year and helping elevate the city’s growing public art scene on a national level…