Illinois Route 66

Funks Grove Shirley Bloomington Normal Towanda Lexington

Bloomington Normal Region Overview

The Heart of Illinois:
This region still exhibits the rich Illinois farming heritage from which it grew. Places like Funk’s Grove offer a complete snapshot of Illinois farm life on Route 66. It is a microcosm of prairie farm history linked by generations of the same family. Towns like Towanda and Lexington allow travelers to discover a slice of America that still flourishes in the rural Midwest. Communities like Bloomington-Normal have grown to become large, technologically diverse urban centers, but even these high tech economies have roots in agriculture. Early in the 19th century, Bloomington was a large prairie grove, which, when settled, became Keg Grove and was later renamed Blooming Grove. The agricultural economy gave rise to businesses like State Farm Insurance and eventually evolved into a diverse national center of technological corporations.

Relationship to Route 66:
The Mother Road is celebrated at various locations in this segment. “Memory Lane” in Lexington and “Geographical Journey” in Towanda are walking tours on old sections of the roadbed.

Funks Grove I-55 Rest Area
This modern rest area along I-55 features interior historical exhibits about Abraham Lincoln and Route 66.

Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup
A major stopping point on Route 66, Debby and Mike Funk continue the family tradition of making pure maple sirup.

Sugar Grove Nature Center
A National Natural Landmark, located among over 1,000 acres of high quality natural areas.

Funks Grove Church
Built in 1864-65.

Funks Grove Cemetery
A beautiful site nestled beneath the large maple trees of Funk's Grove.

Walker Store and Historic Depot
The Walker Store, once a grocery store and gas station, is now an antique store.

Funks Grove
Funks Grove Illinois’ Grand Prairie was spotted with groves, small patches of land where local terrain discouraged prairie fires and allowed trees to reach maturity. One such grove on Timber Creek was homesteaded by Isaac Funk in 1824 who tapped the maple trees to make sirup. The family has been selling sirup commercially since 1891. [...]

Funk Gem and Mineral Museum
The museum interprets the Funk Brothers Seed Company, and houses fossils, Native American artifacts and other items collected by Lafayette Funk II during his travels around the world.

Funk Prairie Home
The restored 1864 home of one of McLean County's most famous citizens, Lafayette Funk.

Shirley
Shirley is a small, unincorporated town located south of Bloomington. It was founded in 1854 as a farm and railroad town and currently has a population of 378.

Prairie Aviation Museum
A collection of preserved aircraft, revolving aviation exhibits and memorabilia, and a mini-theatre.

Miller Park and Zoo
A family-friendly park and zoo.

McLean County Courthouse and Museum of History
National award-winning exhibits of the county's history and a top genealogical reference library.

Cotton’s Village Inn
Historic downtown restaurant inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame.

First Steak’n Shake
Original restaurant location.

David Davis Museum State Historic Site
This Victorian home was built in 1872 for Justice David Davis, who in his early days rode the circuit with Abraham Lincoln, and was later appointed by Lincoln to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Beer Nuts Factory and Company Store
Originally called "Redskins" because they were prepared with their red skins intact, this local company continues to produce BEER NUTS using the original 1937 recipe.

Bloomington
When McLean County was created in 1830, Bloomington was named as the county seat, but the actual location of the community was to be determined later. James Allen, one of the promoters of McLean County, donated 40 acres of land to the new town. Farmers attracted by the rich soil flocked to the area starting [...]

Normal Water Works Tower/Fell Park
Created in the mid-1850s, this is the oldest park in Normal.

Sprague Super Service Station
The largest gas station/restaurant on Historic Route 66.

Normal Theater
The first theater designed for sound films in 1937, today it shows classic films and hosts live theater and music.

Normal
In 1854 the town of North Bloomington was platted in the area which was commonly known as “The Junction,” which was located at the intersection of the Illinois Central and the Chicago & Alton railroads. Jesse Fell is referred to as the “founding father” of Normal. In 1857, Governor William Bissell signed a bill to create [...]

Towanda Meadows
The largest Italianate Farmhouse in McLean County, built in the late 1860s.

Towanda Dead Man’s Curve
A dangerous curve on old Route 4, the original Route 66 before the 1940s.

“A Geographical Journey” Parkway
A 1.6 mile stretch of Route 66 with educational kiosks that interpret each state along the road.

Towanda
This farm town is named for the birthplace of Jesse Fell in Pennsylvania. Founder of Normal and Illinois State University, he donated the land for the town in 1853. The settlers found vast stretches of prairie that they broke for prosperous farms. The railroad line that bisects the village was central to the life of [...]

Scrogin Cemetery
This cemetery contains graves from 1850-1916.

Patton Cabin
Built by the area's first settler, John Patton, in June, 1829 with the help of the Kickapoo and Delaware Indians.

Filling Station Restaurant
The Mesa Cafe was built in the 1940s and was originally a Skelly filling station.

Lexington Route 66 Park
A small wayside park along Route 66 that provides information about historic Lexington.

Lexington Neon Arrow Sign
Originally erected in the late 1940s on Route 66, the sign has recently been restored.

Memory Lane
A one-mile stretch of original Route 66 that has been restored back to the 1940s era with vintage billboard and Burma Shave signs.

Lexington
Lexington One of Illinois’ oldest towns founded in 1837, Lexington was named after the Massachusetts battleground. During its Route 66 heyday, it had nine gas stations and numerous eateries and motels. It continues to celebrate its heritage of the Mother Road with murals on its buildings and a walking trail called “Memory Lane.” This one [...]

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