Williamsville, IL

Frank’s Station was built in the mid-1930’s along Route 66 when it ran through the village of Williamsville.  A gathering place for travelers and residents to drink coffee, chat and share news from up and down the Mother Road.

Carpenter Park

Springfield, IL

Built in 1922, this quiet ribbon of concrete through the woods was once a bustling highway!  From 1926-36’, Route 66 traffic rumbled over its surface to the Sangamon River.

Gate 2 – Illinois State Fairgrounds

Springfield, IL 

Walk through this micro-form exhibit highlighting 92 communities along Illinois Route 66 from Chicago to the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison.  Marvel at the Legends Neon Sign Park and the 25’ tall Steel Giant!

Illinois State Fairgrounds

Zipping down the 40’ tall, 130’ long Giant Slide has been a State Fair tradition since 1968.  Now open seasonally May – August on Saturdays, you can get your “slide” on Route 66! 

Illinois State Fairgrounds

Springfield, IL

Soar over Route 66 and get a bird’s-eye view of the Mother Road and the entire IL State Fairgrounds!  Making its debut at the Illinois State Fair in 1968, the Sky Glider has been a permanent fixture since as riders are seated 50 feet above the fairgrounds for the perfect view!

Springfield, IL

Bill Shea is an icon along historic Route 66.  In 1955, Bill opened the Marathon service station, just down from the Texaco station he operated for 9 years.  Upon its closure in 1982, it quickly became filled with quirky Route 66 artifacts and travelers from around the world came to marvel at the collection.

Springfield, IL

A bustling commercial district in the 1940’s and 50’s, South Town, located just a few blocks east of Route 66 beaconed travelers and residents to visit, catch a movie at the South Town Theater, shop for furniture at Madison’s and eat lunch at South Town Grill!  Today this area serves as a hub for innovative entrepreneurs.

Springfield, IL

Explore the unique stories of the Black traveler along Route 66.  Discover the significant roles of Black businesses, the Negro Motorist Green Book and the Great Migration while taking a virtual reality trip that brings history to life.  

Springfield, IL

Celebrating Route 66 cars and racing culture, Motorheads is a one-of-a-kind staple on the Mother Road in the capital city.  A former Stuckey’s gas station, this complex has become a treasure trove of vintage signs, artifacts and vehicles, not to mention the 30’ tall “Big Ron” giant supporting the towering 70’ tall World’s Largest Outdoor Route 66 Shield!

Springfield, IL

Enjoy an original deep fried hot dog on a stick, the Cozy Dog!  Originally coined the “GI Hot Dog” in 1946 when Ed Waldmire opened three stands at the IL State Fair recognizing the soldiers of WWII.  Three generations of the Waldmire family have been serving their famous dogs ever since.

Chatham, IL

Nostalgia at its best, Sangamo Brewing displays a collection of antique signs, bottles and other “breweriana” from historic breweries of Springfield and Downstate Illinois.  Their name and logo were inspired by a 1912 Sangamo beer label from the Reisch Brewing Company located in Springfield.

Auburn, IL

Founded in 1835 along the Alton & Sangamon Railroad, Auburn still retains its small town charm that greeted Route 66 travelers from 1924-1930.  The double-decker bandstand, built in 1905 remains today, after a 2001 rebuild to preserve an iconic part of the heritage.  While there, visit the stretch of original brick at Snell and Curran Roads

For more Route 66 adventures, visit our Route 66 landing page and Mural Trail blog