The Route 66 Spirit of America Museum wants visitors to explore the dreams America has achieved, what made achieving them possible, and dreams America can achieve
in the future. It’s the brainchild of Steve Brandt, founder and director, who opened the five-room museum on June 10, 2023.
America’s real and fictional characters and major events are highlighted: the lives of Reverend Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King, the 1976 Centennial Train, Star Wars and Star Trek, “Cars” movie, Superman and Superwoman, a real American hero, Desmond Doss, Woodstock, America’s space quest, including the Apollo program and much more.
There is a theme. “People who follow their dreams have moved America forward. And there are people who have followed their dreams and are no longer alive, but can still move us forward if enough people find out about them. I’m referring to Buckminster Fuller, Dr. W. Edwards Deming and my mentor, Russell Encroft” Brant explained. Interested?
On June 13, Brant held
a seminar with Stroud citizens and discussed America’s status at 250 years. We engaged in conversations on topics like
“Founding Fathers’ belief that the Pursuit of Happiness is an inner spiritual journey” and “What it will take for ‘the light side’ to win over ‘the dark side’ in the contest of ideas. This led to discussions about what makes people happy (consumerism, virtue, religion, etc.) and how some people
use competition while others use cooperation to move society forward.
During the talk, the Bontrager family from Turner, Oregon, visited. Deanna, the mother, noticed, “historical nods to people who really tried to make a difference like Fred Rogers, even Superman, you know, I think anything that influences people to, maybe do something bigger than they think they’re capable of.”
