Dave Jackson, a lifelong resident and former editor of the Litchfield News Herald, wanted Litchfield to have a museum and hoped to share and preserve his large collection of Litchfield memorabilia. He died in May 2010 before that goal was realized. In the spring of 2011, a group including his wife, Martha, and daughter, Anne, met to discuss publishing a book of old Litchfield postcards, and by the end of the meeting the Museum Association had been formed, with the book becoming its first fundraiser for the new Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center. In June 2011, Martha Jackson purchased property on Historic Route 66 and donated it to the Association in Dave's memory. A dedicated group of Litchfield citizens worked diligently, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 23, 2012, construction began on the 4600 square foot facility on May 1, 2012, memorabilia began to be collected from area citizens on January 9, 2013, and the grand opening was held on June 1, 2013. The Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center became the realization of Dave Jackson's dream through the work of Martha Jackson and a like-minded group of volunteers, and it continues as a non-for-profit organization run solely by volunteers who welcome thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
