Illinois Route 66

Elkhart Broadwell Lincoln Lawndale Atlanta McLean

Lincoln Regional Overview

Prosperous Prairie Towns:
This is another succession of towns built along the Chicago & Alton Railroad with some of the mostproductive farms in the world. Abraham Lincoln tourism on Route 66 begins here.

Relationship to Route 66:
This segment has always been important as a farm-to-market corridor, whether by rail or road.

Bluestem Bake Shop
Locally-owned cafe serving fresh, made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch.

Elkhart Gas Station
Formerly a 1940s era landmark of Route 66.

Old Gillett Farm
An historic seventh generation farm on Elkhart Hill that offers tours of the family homestead and accomodations in the guest house.

Gillett Memorial Arch Bridge
Commissioned by former Illinois first lady Emma Gillett Oglesby in 1915 as a memorial to her brother.

St. John the Baptist Chapel
The only privately owned chapel in the state of Illinois, it was built in 1890 to honor John Dean Gillett.

Elkhart Cemetery
This beautiful wooded 1874 cemetery is the last resting place of a governor, a cattle baron and a wild west showman.

Elkhart Hill
A glacial moraine that rises above the surrounding prairie and was used by native tribes for navigation.

Elkhart
Elk Heart Hill is a tree covered glacial moraine that rises 777 feet above sea level, contrasting with the surrounding flat prairie land. The first American came in 1819 and settled what was then known as Elk Heart Grove on the stage route from Springfield to Bloomington. With the coming of the railroad in 1853, [...]

Pioneer’s Rest Motel
Was an expansion of the successful Pig Hip restaurant business.

Pig Hip Restaurant
An icon of Route 66, owned by Ernie Edwards, creator of the Pig Hip sandwich.

Broadwell
The Village of Broadwell was laid out on the Chicago & Alton rail line in 1856 by William Broadwell and Jacob Eisiminger. Broadwell became a shipping point for hogs, corn, wheat and later soybeans. The Village of Broadwell featured the well-known “Pig Hip” Restaurant, operated by Ernest L. (“Ernie”) Edwards and family from 1937 through [...]

Madigan (Railsplitter) State Park
Home to the largest sycamore tree in Illinois and seven miles of trails.

Lincoln Ghost Bridge
Ruins of a bridge over Salt Creek south of Lincoln—part of the 1926 alignment.

Redwood Motel
Previously the site of a Standard Oil station built in 1934, the current motel owners are maintaining the motel in its 1950s-60s era.

Railsplitter Covered Wagon
Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "World's Largest Covered Wagon."

Tropics Restaurant
The original neon sign with palm tree still stands from the restaurant named for the owner's time in Hawaii.

The Mill Restaurant
Opened in 1929, the Dutch themed building with blue trim featured a revolving windmill and waitresses dressed in blue with white aprons who served the famous fried schnitzel.

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site
A reproduction of the first Logan County Courthouse in use from 1840 to 1847 where Abraham Lincoln served as a lawyer on the Eighth Judicial Circuit.

Route 66 Chapel
This small log cabin chapel next to Route 66 is open for travelers.

Lincoln Christening Site
The site where Abraham Lincoln christened the town with the juice of a watermelon.

Hallie’s Restaurant
The original Schnitzel from The Mill Restaurant is now served here in downtown Lincoln.

Lincoln City Hall
Lincoln City Hall anchors the downtown National Historic Registered District and is one of the city's most visible symbols.

Logan County Courthouse
The stone, three-story, domed structure is an architecturally spectacular historic building.

Krotz and Sons Antiques & Stuff
This curiosity shop is more of a historic museum, displaying vintage auto parts, merchandise from other bygone businesses, and old photos of the city of Lincoln.

Lincoln College Museum
A repository of a large collection of manuscripts, artifacts, and other memorabilia relating to the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Abandoned Route 66 Pavement, Lincoln
A small stretch of original Route 66 alignment pavement.

Heritage In-Flight Museum
The museum is filled with memorabilia from all the military conflicts dating back to World War I.

Lincoln
This is the only town named for and christened by Abraham Lincoln before he became president. First settled in the 1830s, it was officially named for Lincoln on August 27, 1853. Lincoln had assisted with the platting of the town and worked as counsel for the C. & A. Railroad newly laid through the community. [...]

Lawndale
This small farm town has one tavern, no gas station, and a converted mobile home as its post office. It is regionally known for “the Lawndale Incident.” On July 25, 1977 two giant unidentified birds, commonly known in Crypto-Zoology as “Thunderbirds,” passed over Lawndale, Illinois. One swooped down and grabbed ten-year-old Marlon Lowe from his [...]

“Wisteria Cafe” Mural
Mural for the Wisteria Cafe & Confectionery, a place for ice cream soda, cigars, and candy in the 1920s.

“Reisch Beer” Mural
Wall mural for 1894 building that served as an outlet for the Resich Brewing Company from Springfield. It was painted in June, 2003 by Letterheads.

J.M. Judy and Sons Grocer mural
This mural is a reproduction of a mural that adorned the side of the J.M. Judy Grocer building in the 1890s.

Smiley Water Tower
Atlanta's bright yellow water tower with a smiley face painted on it is an inviting welcome to Route 66 travelers.

Bunyon’s Statue Giant
A Route 66 landmark, this muffler man statue stands in downtown Atlanta, IL to welcome visitors.

Palms Grill Cafe Mural
Mural was painted by the Letterheads in 2003.

Palms Grill Cafe
Originally operated from 1934 to the late 1960s, the cafe has been refurbished as a working restaurant, and once again serves its traditional blue-plate specials to Route 66 travelers.

“Atlanta: Midway on Illinois’ Mother Road” Mural
The mural celebrates Atlanta's location approximately 150 miles from both Chicago and St. Louis.

Route 66 Park & Tourism Center, Atlanta
114 SW Arch St. Atlanta, IL 61723 This modern roadside park was built by Atlanta for Route 66 travelers to relax. An information booth is staffed seasonally to provide information about sites in Atlanta (once was a Ticket Office for the Atlanta Fair). It also includes the cornerstone of Atlanta High School (1909) and a memorial [...]

Atlanta Public Library and Clock Tower
Built in 1908, this octagon-shaped building is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses a museum that displays pieces of local history.

J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum
This wooden grain elevator is the only one of its kind in the State of Illinois and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Atlanta
Atlanta was established in 1853 when its founder, Thomas Gill, recognized where the path of the Chicago and Alton Railroad would be laid from St.Louis to Chicago. This picturesque town is located near the midway point on Route 66 between Chicago and St. Louis. It is noted for its many murals on the historic buildings. At [...]

Dixie Truck Stop
The oldest truck stop in Illinois, serving travelers on Route 66 since 1928.

McLean
McLean, a farming community of about 800, featuresa downtown area with several historic buildings anda restored train depot that houses an antique shop.This small town of 800 residents still continues toattract visitors at the Dixie Truckers Home, theoldest truck stop in Illinois. Filled with Route 66memorabilia, the truck stop has been serving upburgers and fries [...]

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