Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Home

New Photos From Route 66

2018 Red Carpet Corridor

Ryburn Place at Sprague Super Service Grand Opening 8-12-17

2017 Lincoln's Festival on Route 66

2017 Rock 'n Rods on 66 Festival

2017 World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival

2017 Blue Carpet Corridor

2017 Niehaus Cycle Sales Customer Appreciation Days

2017 Red Carpet Corridor

Railsplitter Antique Auto Club Car Show Lincoln IL 8-28-16

Berwyn Rt 66 Car Show 8-27-16

Lincoln Home National Park Service 100th Anniversary 8-25-16

Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Vietnam Wall Ceremony 8-25-16

McLean IL Walldog Mural Festival 8-20-16

2016 Blue Carpet Corridor

Downtown Bloomington Car Cruise-In 6-5-2016

Logan County Arts Route 66 Exhibit Opening 6-2-16

Bandit Run Pontiac IL 6-1-16

Rialto Square Theatre 90th Anniversary Celebration 5-24-16

3rd Fridays Inaugural Event Lincoln IL 5-20-16

Niehaus Cycle Sales Customer Appreciation Days 5-14-16

2016 Red Carpet Corridor

Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center First Anniversary 4-25-16

Dwight IL Route 66 90th Birthday Celebration 4-21-16

Miles of Possibility Edwardsville Route 66 Conference

45th Annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival 2015

Elkhart Fall Festival 10-10-15

2015 International Mother Road Festival

Illinois State Fair Media Day 8-6-15

Bloomington Car Show 6-6-15

International Mother Road Festival Springfield IL 9/26-9/28/14

Berwyn Route 66 Car Show 9-6-14

Berwyn, IL

17th Annual World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival

Inaugural 2015 Blue Carpet Corridor 6-13 to 6-14

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Videos From The Road

Eagle Injured in 2017 Successfully Released Back Into Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield, IL - 1/20/18

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Josiah Keller performs Star Spangled Banner at The Mill on 66 Motorcycle Show 9-17-16

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Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner Signs Route 66 Motorcycle Plate Legislation 8/20/16

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45th Annual National Railsplitting Contest - Lincoln IL

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2014 International Mother Road Festival City Nights Cruise

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Whispering Joe @ 2014 International Mother Road Festival

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Illinois Route 66

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Route 66 Stories, Ernie Edwards, Pig Hip Restaurant / Museum, Broadwell

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Illinois Route 66 Stories: Jim Jones - Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, Pontiac

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Route 66 Stories: Betty Estes - Illinois Route 66

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The Three Alignments

This era encompasses the "Golden Age" of Route 66 where America's car culture took hold. Drive-in theaters, Drive-in restaurants, and motels were born and developed along the Mother Road during this period.

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The concept of the "bypass" was first implemented on Route 66 during this era. Transportation infrastructure is well underway at this point in history as well and traveler expectations have risen, resulting in gas stations, motels, and formalized rest areas.

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The "original" Route 66 alignment in Illinois signifies a turning point in transportation history as the emphasis of long distance travel shifts from a fixed rail system to a traveler driven navigation. Illinois was the first state to boast having Route 66 paved from end to end. It is during this time period that the Mother Road was most often referred to as " The Hard Road."

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Featured Attractions

Rusty Star Marketplace & Route 66 Welcome Center

Divernon, IL

Discover a unique and charming marketplace with 80 small business shoppes under one roof. You will be pleasantly surprised at our fabulous lobby displays that change with the seasons and the holidays! Rusty Star Marketplace offers a wide variety of merchandise; antique, vintage, new, all displayed nicely in room settings, and for the ladies - jewelry, purses, clothing and accessories. Something for everyone!

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The Tropics Restaurant Neon Sign

Lincoln, IL

The Tropics Restaurant Neon Sign is located at the original location of the famous Route 66 neon sign, which is now at the McDonald’s restaurant in Lincoln. It was recently restored by Ace Sign Company through the efforts of the Tropics Legacy Campaign, which included a grant from the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program.

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Maldaner's Restaurant & Catering Since 1884

Springfield, IL

Established in 1884, Maldaner's Restaurant and Catering is one of Springfield's finest restaurants. The Oldest Restaurant on Route 66 now offers the experience of literally "Eating on 66", with outside patio seating including at the parklet, where you get to dine on the actual Mother Road pavement in historic downtown Springfield! This is truly a unique 66 experience. If you have visited The Old State Capitol, Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana-Thomas House or the State Capitol, you can imagine the wonderful celebrations held at Maldaner's from the turn of the last century to the present day. Maldaner's has been located on Historic Route 66 since the road began!

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Motorheads Bar & Grill

Springfield, IL

Get ready Route 66...Motorheads is now fired up and serving customers! Over 18 different beers, 4 wines and 4 cocktails are on tap. The old Stuckey's Restaurant is being transformed into a bar and grill with video gaming, as well as a museum of Springfield, Route 66 and Car Racing artifacts. The museum contains a substantial portion of the former Shea's Gas Station museum collection. Several television screens in the bar area will feature car racing events.

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A Celtic Cross for Remembrance In Funk’s Grove

In Funk’s Grove, the Funk family cemetery held a secret for almost 150 years. A large grave holds the remains of about fifty unidentified Irishmen who probably died from cholera while laying the railroad tracks that run parallel to Route 66 and modern I-55. In 1847, the Alton & Sangamon Railroad (later named Chicago & Alton) began laying tracks from St. Louis to Springfield. By 1853, those tracks had reached Bloomington. Most of the men and boys who labored to make this road for the “iron horse” were from Ireland...

The Land of OZ on Route 66

Travelers on Route 66 remind me of that timeless story of Dorothy and Toto as they set out on their Adventures to see what lied upon the horizon. How ironic that a little girl buried on a Route 66 Cemetery would inspire such a story. Dorothy Louise Gage the niece of L. Frank Baum who wrote the book, "The Wonderful Wizard of OZ" passed away before she was 6 months old. Her death would inspire him to name his main character in a book he was writing Dorothy. The impact of his books and later a Movie would inspire generations to come.

Upcoming Events

Dwight Harvest Days & Annual Basset Waddle

17th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts

Lincoln Heritage Museum Grand Soiree

Stewart's Deep Rock Historical Rt. 66 Cruise

The Mill on 66 12th Annual Car Cruise-In

Trunk-or-Treat

Santa 5k and 1-Mile Stroll

4th Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

Dwight Harvest Days & Annual Basset Waddle

17th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts

Lincoln Heritage Museum Grand Soiree

Stewart's Deep Rock Historical Rt. 66 Cruise

The Mill on 66 12th Annual Car Cruise-In

Trunk-or-Treat

Santa 5k and 1-Mile Stroll

4th Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

9/20/18 - 9/23/18

Dwight

9/21/18 - 9/23/18

Springfield

9/28/18 - 10/7/18

Bloomington-Normal

9/29/18

Bloomington-Normal

9/29/18

Lincoln

10/6/18

Litchfield

10/13/18

Lincoln

10/20/18

Joliet

10/20/18

Joliet

10/25/18 - 10/28/18

Carlinville

9/20/18 - 9/23/18

Dwight

9/21/18 - 9/23/18

Springfield

9/28/18 - 10/7/18

Bloomington-Normal

9/29/18

Bloomington-Normal

9/29/18

Lincoln

10/6/18

Litchfield

10/13/18

Lincoln

10/20/18

Joliet

10/20/18

Joliet

10/25/18 - 10/28/18

Carlinville

Dwight's premiere annual event is a great time for the whole family. Enjoy pie baking and pie eating contests, hypnosis/magician, Jr. Karaoke contest, Live Country Music, Live Dixieland Band, All Star Jam Band, Hairbanger's Ball, car show, tractor show and hours of fun!

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Over 1,000 cool cars and 80,000 spectators will roll into the heart of Springfield's historic downtown September 21-23 for a weekend of family fun in the sun and non-stop live music and entertainment! Come celebrate the golden age of Route 66...the cars, the music, the food, the friends - all brought together along Illinois Route 66.

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Since 1822, when people began settling the land that would later become known as McLean County, the county and its citizens have helped shaped the history of Illinois. From being home to Illinois’s first public university (Illinois State University), aiding Abraham Lincoln’s rise to the nation’s highest office, leading the way in agricultural innovations, and producing and training internationally known circus performers, the citizens of McLean County have made an indelible mark on almost 200 years of Illinois history that is worthy of celebrating.

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Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts is turning 50! Join PR&CA for a great afternoon celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts. All the fun will happen Saturday, Sept. 29th from 2 - 5 p.m. in Miller Park. Featuring Live Music, Sand Volleyball, Lawn Games, Shuffleboard, Trivia, Beach Fun, 50¢ Mini Golf & Paddle Boats.

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Lincoln College will be opening its doors for its annual gala premiere, the Grand Soirée. This event helps celebrate the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln while helping the Lincoln Heritage Museum raise funds to continue to conserve historical artifacts as well as grow its educational outreach efforts.

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Stewart's Deep Rock Gas Station & Truck Stop Open Car, Truck and Motorcycle Historical Rt. 66 Cruise is coming to Litchfield on Saturday, October 6th at the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center. Festivities begin at 2pm.

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The Railsplitter Antique Auto Club has once again teamed up with the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County to host the 11th Annual Car Cruise-In at The Mill. The event will take place Saturday, October 13th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Mill, 738 S. Washington St. in Lincoln. All members of the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club, other car clubs, and the public are invited to this fun-filled family event. In keeping with the decades-old tradition of music at The Mill, there will be live music beginning at 11am, from Ryan Parcelle of Lincoln and Stan, Jeff & Lynn from Jacksonville.

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Families and race fans are invited to load up their trunks with candy and put their little ones in full costume before heading to the second annual Trunk-or-Treat fundraising event at Chicagoland Speedway on October 20 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

For just a $10 donation per car, children can navigate from car to car through Chicagoland Speedway’s Champion’s Park to collect candy as they would door-to-door on Halloween. The proceeds will benefit Chicagoland Speedway’s charitable entity, Racing Advocates for Community Enrichment (R.A.C.E.).

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This year’s event will feature a competitive, timed and scored 5K race as well as a leisurely 1-mile stroll with participants of all ages and ability levels including families, strollers and wheelchairs. Gates will open at 8 a.m., and race time is scheduled for 9 a.m. CT.

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The Illinois Route 66 Blue Carpet Corridor is proud to present the 4th Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference that will be held in Carlinville, Illinois, on Thursday-Saturday, October 25-27, 2018. The primary venue for the conference is Blackburn College, northeast of Downtown Carlinville at University and Nicholas Streets. The conference focuses on historic preservation, economic development, history, and marketing presented by an outstanding line-up of nationally known experts on Route 66.

Learn More

Dwight's premiere annual event is a great time for the whole family. Enjoy pie baking and pie eating contests, hypnosis/magician, Jr. Karaoke contest, Live Country Music, Live Dixieland Band, All Star Jam Band, Hairbanger's Ball, car show, tractor show and hours of fun!

Learn More

Over 1,000 cool cars and 80,000 spectators will roll into the heart of Springfield's historic downtown September 21-23 for a weekend of family fun in the sun and non-stop live music and entertainment! Come celebrate the golden age of Route 66...the cars, the music, the food, the friends - all brought together along Illinois Route 66.

Learn More

Since 1822, when people began settling the land that would later become known as McLean County, the county and its citizens have helped shaped the history of Illinois. From being home to Illinois’s first public university (Illinois State University), aiding Abraham Lincoln’s rise to the nation’s highest office, leading the way in agricultural innovations, and producing and training internationally known circus performers, the citizens of McLean County have made an indelible mark on almost 200 years of Illinois history that is worthy of celebrating.

Learn More

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts is turning 50! Join PR&CA for a great afternoon celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts. All the fun will happen Saturday, Sept. 29th from 2 - 5 p.m. in Miller Park. Featuring Live Music, Sand Volleyball, Lawn Games, Shuffleboard, Trivia, Beach Fun, 50¢ Mini Golf & Paddle Boats.

Learn More

Lincoln College will be opening its doors for its annual gala premiere, the Grand Soirée. This event helps celebrate the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln while helping the Lincoln Heritage Museum raise funds to continue to conserve historical artifacts as well as grow its educational outreach efforts.

Learn More

Stewart's Deep Rock Gas Station & Truck Stop Open Car, Truck and Motorcycle Historical Rt. 66 Cruise is coming to Litchfield on Saturday, October 6th at the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center. Festivities begin at 2pm.

Learn More

The Railsplitter Antique Auto Club has once again teamed up with the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County to host the 11th Annual Car Cruise-In at The Mill. The event will take place Saturday, October 13th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Mill, 738 S. Washington St. in Lincoln. All members of the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club, other car clubs, and the public are invited to this fun-filled family event. In keeping with the decades-old tradition of music at The Mill, there will be live music beginning at 11am, from Ryan Parcelle of Lincoln and Stan, Jeff & Lynn from Jacksonville.

Learn More

Families and race fans are invited to load up their trunks with candy and put their little ones in full costume before heading to the second annual Trunk-or-Treat fundraising event at Chicagoland Speedway on October 20 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

For just a $10 donation per car, children can navigate from car to car through Chicagoland Speedway’s Champion’s Park to collect candy as they would door-to-door on Halloween. The proceeds will benefit Chicagoland Speedway’s charitable entity, Racing Advocates for Community Enrichment (R.A.C.E.).

Learn More

This year’s event will feature a competitive, timed and scored 5K race as well as a leisurely 1-mile stroll with participants of all ages and ability levels including families, strollers and wheelchairs. Gates will open at 8 a.m., and race time is scheduled for 9 a.m. CT.

Learn More

The Illinois Route 66 Blue Carpet Corridor is proud to present the 4th Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference that will be held in Carlinville, Illinois, on Thursday-Saturday, October 25-27, 2018. The primary venue for the conference is Blackburn College, northeast of Downtown Carlinville at University and Nicholas Streets. The conference focuses on historic preservation, economic development, history, and marketing presented by an outstanding line-up of nationally known experts on Route 66.

Learn More

Dwight Harvest Days & Annual Basset Waddle

9/20/18 - 9/23/18

Dwight

Learn More

17th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival

9/21/18 - 9/23/18

Springfield

Learn More

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

9/28/18 - 10/7/18

Bloomington-Normal

Learn More

50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts

9/29/18

Bloomington-Normal

Learn More

Lincoln Heritage Museum Grand Soiree

9/29/18

Lincoln

Learn More

Stewart's Deep Rock Historical Rt. 66 Cruise

10/6/18

Litchfield

Learn More

The Mill on 66 12th Annual Car Cruise-In

10/13/18

Lincoln

Learn More

Trunk-or-Treat

10/20/18

Joliet

Learn More

Santa 5k and 1-Mile Stroll

10/20/18

Joliet

Learn More

4th Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

10/25/18 - 10/28/18

Carlinville

Learn More

Dwight Harvest Days & Annual Basset Waddle

9/20/18 - 9/23/18

Dwight

Learn More

17th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival

9/21/18 - 9/23/18

Springfield

Learn More

Evergreen Cemetery Walk

9/28/18 - 10/7/18

Bloomington-Normal

Learn More

50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts

9/29/18

Bloomington-Normal

Learn More

Lincoln Heritage Museum Grand Soiree

9/29/18

Lincoln

Learn More

Stewart's Deep Rock Historical Rt. 66 Cruise

10/6/18

Litchfield

Learn More

The Mill on 66 12th Annual Car Cruise-In

10/13/18

Lincoln

Learn More

Trunk-or-Treat

10/20/18

Joliet

Learn More

Santa 5k and 1-Mile Stroll

10/20/18

Joliet

Learn More

4th Annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference

10/25/18 - 10/28/18

Carlinville

Learn More

McLean County Museum Hires New Executive Director

Mar 27, 2018

Adam Lovell, of Reedsville Wisconsin, has been named the new Executive Director at the McLean County Museum of History. Lovell has over 18 years’ experience in museum operations. Most recently, he spent two years as Assistant Director and Curator at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and eight years as Curator of Collections at the Detroit Historical Society in Detroit Michigan.

Eagle injured in April to be released at Lake Lou Yaeger

Jan 12, 2018

Last April, at Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield, IL, a female Bald Eagle was injured, in what was viewed as a territorial fight with a male Bald Eagle. While the male Bald Eagle did not survive, thankfully the female Bald Eagle was able to be transported to the Treehouse Wildlife Rescue Center in Dow, IL to recover from her injuries. The female bald Eagle has made a full recovery and will be released back to her native territory at Lake Lou Yaeger. The release is scheduled for Saturday, January 20th and the public is invited to attend.

Explore It

One Mile
At A Time

Route 66

Explore It

One Mile
At A Time

Route 66

Explore It

One Mile At A Time

Route 66

Explore It

One Mile At A Time

Route 66

One Mile
At A Time

One Mile
At A Time