The Illinois State Fairgrounds Route 66 Experience is an educational exhibit open 365 days a year inside Gate 2 on the corner of Route 66 & Sangamon Avenue.  The Experience, a self-guided tour, highlights businesses in 92 communities along Route 66 in Illinois beginning in Chicago and ending at the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison, Illinois.  Vintage billboards, a drive-in movie theatre, Legends Neon Sign Park and tribute to muffler men along Illinois Route 66 make up a large part of the Experience.  The desire to educate youth, bring back the road trip, and promote Illinois Route 66 communities was the driving force behind this project.  The Illinois State Fairgrounds Route 66 Experience was led by the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway in coordination with Visit Springfield, Ace Sign Company, Illinois Department of Agriculture and Enjoy Illinois.  Funding was provided by two DCEO tourism grants.  The Route 66 Centennial will be celebrated nationwide in 2026. The Ace Sign Co. Team imagined, designed, engineered, fabricated, and installed each element of the Route 66 Experience, including all authentic glass neon crafted in-house at our Springfield manufacturing facility just off Route 66. 

The Experience is open 365 days a year from dusk to dawn and is FREE of charge, however, donations are greatly appreciated!  Donations can be made by scrolling down on this page.