A Springfield mural inspired by Route 66 is receiving national recognition after earning two honors at the 2026 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.
In addition to the National Mural Awards recognition, “Hitchhikers” recently was featured on Street Art Cities, an international platform used by travelers and art enthusiasts to discover destinations through public art tourism.
Meg Wagler, founder and CEO of Overlay, said public art projects can be challenging to organize, but community support and trust can lead to meaningful results.
“Hitchhikers” was created by artists Emily Ding and Osiris Rain and can be found at Birthplace Plaza in downtown Springfield.
For more information on Overlay Fest, visit their website, Instagram and Facebook pages.
