Other These attraction fall under the category of “Other,” but that does not make them any less interesting – or less worthy of a visitor’s attention. Devotees and students of religion will enjoy a visit to Darien’s Nation Shrine of St. Therese and Castle Eden. Sitting on 50 acres of land, it is home to a [...]
Landscape & Natural History Tens of thousands of years ago, the Illinoisan Glacier left a thick, fertile blanket of topsoil on most of what we call Illinois today. And it left very few obstacles to prevent building roads like Illinois Route 66. In fact, before being settled by Europeans, Illinois had 22 million acres of prairie habitat. Many species [...]
Agriculture & Mining The experience of cruising Illinois Route 66 is so much more relaxing and pleasant than the monotony of driving the interstate – and in some places along the way, 66 is is within view of Interstate 55. On 66, the prairie, farms and fences seem to roll pleasantly by. The sky seems more expansive and [...]
Transportation Illinois Route 66 is all about transportation – and, there are many fascinating attractions that will appeal to buffs of various styles of conveyance. Got a need for speed? Visit the Route 66 Raceway in Preston Heights. I&M Canal Museum is a fascinating diversion for people who appreciate the liquid intricacies of transporting goods on [...]
Community History Historic sites, museums, buildings, cemeteries, artwork and murals that commemorate our communities’ history line the Mother Road in Illinois. From majestic Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park and Sears Tower in Chicago to three (count ‘em, three!) Swinging Bridges in Pontiac and the Funk Gem and Mineral Museum in Shirley, and everything betwixt and between, Illinois [...]
Historic Roadside Infrastructure Some fans of nostalgia take their fascination with Illinois Route 66 right down to the pavement beneath their tires. And no wonder, because Illinois 66 isn’t only where The Mother Road Begins – and began – but it still stands as testimony to the very birth of the interstate highway system. GI’s used it, post-war, [...]
Historic & Modern Attractions Oversized pink elephants. Muffler men. Giant neon-bedecked coffee pots. Dutch mills with rotating propellers. More Burma Shave signs than you can shake a razor at… Illinois Route 66 is home to more wonderful examples of commercial art than exists anywhere else on the Mother Road in the same distance. And, that’s not to mention a [...]
Historic & Modern Services As travelers on Route 66, our appetites for glimpses of history are partly satisfied by our ability to experience the evolution of service station, cafe and motel architectural design – not to mention the hospitality that glowed from all such businesses in days gone by. Illinois Route 66 is quite literally dotted with beautifully restored [...]
Core Route 66 Experiences So, what’s a “Core Route 66 Experience?” Simply put, these are can’t-miss, historically significant attractions that will provide you unique, memorable glimpses into the glory days of The Mother Road. Some are quick stops. Others will tempt you to linger for hours. But they’re all fun, they’re all interesting, and they’re all one-of-a-kind. You’ll drive [...]
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.
Litchfield Regional Overview Farming and Mining Towns of Montgomery, Macoupin, and Madison Counties: These towns began as farming communities, typically along a rail line, and in the late 1800s developed coal mines. There were two associated periods of immigration from Europe—first came the farmers and later the miners. The Illinois Labor History Society best describes the significance of this region: As [...]
East St. Louis Regional Overview Old Mississippi River Towns: Southwestern Illinois came under control of the American colonies following capture of British posts by Gen. George Rogers Clark’s forces during the Revolutionary War. By the early 1800s there were still relatively few settlers along the western border of United States’ Indiana Territory. Many of these towns were established in those early [...]
Carlinville Regional Overview Mining Towns of Macoupin County: Coal mines were developed in the county in the late 1800s. By 1910, there were 22 shaft mines, 17 of which were shipping coal by rail to industrial centers. Virden had 4, Girard 1, Nilwood 1, Carlinville 1, Gillespie 3, and Staunton had 4. The “pit villages” of Mt. Clare, Benld, [...]
Springfield Region Overview The Capital Communities: The history of these prosperous farm towns are intimately connected to the history of the state capital. This is the nexus of Abraham Lincoln tourism. Springfield and the surrounding area are the traditional pilgrimage sites celebrating the life of the martyred President Lincoln. The old Hard Road, 66 has always carried travelers to [...]
Pontiac Regional Overview The Coal Mining Strip Braidwood, Godley, Braceville and Gardner: In 1865 William Henneberry was digging a well on the Thomas Byron farm, when he found instead rich black coal. Mining activity boomed at a town named for James Braidwood, a Scottish emigrant who sank the first shaft for the Chicago & Wilmington Coal Company (C&W). Located [...]
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 [...]
Joliet Regional Overview Crossroads of America: This section of the route is an intersection of canal, rail, and highway transportation. The I & M Canal, Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago and Alton Railroad, Lincoln Highway, Route 66, and more recently, Interstates 80 and 55, all played and still play a significant role in the development of these communities. Relationship to [...]
Chicagoland Regional Overview The Southwest Suburbs: The suburbs of Chicago, collectively called Chicagoland, are described as “The Birthplace of Chicago.” In a literal sense, the Chicago Portage connecting the Great Lakes and the Mississippi is where the city began. But the suburbs are where it grew. Route 66 through the southwest suburbs is a story of decline of old [...]
Chicago Regional Overview “The windy city,” “the city of the big shoulders,” Chicago, is a world city which each year attracts almost 12 million domestic business travelers, 33 million domestic leisure visitors and more than one million international visitors. With a population of nearly 3 million people, the city is the anchor of the Chicago metropolitan area, commonly [...]
