The first Street Rod Nationals was held in Peoria, Illinois, in 1970.
The event was organized by the editors of Rod and Custom magazine together with street-rod clubs from around the United States. Its success helped lead to the formation of the National Street Rod Association, which continues to run the event.
The Peoria gathering was only the beginning. The second Nationals moved to Memphis and drew roughly twice the attendance, while later editions rotated among cities including Columbus, Ohio. The event is now held in Louisville, Kentucky.
A common mix-up is confusing the Nationals’ founding city with its modern home. Louisville is the long-running host today, but Peoria holds the historical distinction. The show also helped establish the large national meeting format that became central to organized street-rodding.