Illinois is the nation's crossroad of rail lines. Railroads not only accelerated Illinois’ economic development and population boom but also were icons that influenced American culture. The national land-based transportation network radically changed the economy, how people traveled, and how corporate structure evolved. Rail workers were seen as heroic as they labored in a hazardous occupation. The railroad became a cultural symbol, reflected in advertising, cinema, and children’s toys. Each presentation includes some local rail history. Climb aboard for a train ride into our culture.
Speaker Mike Matejka has a passion for railroads and railroad history and is an experienced speaker on the topic.