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Published Jul/Aug 2006 | |||||||
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Explore legendary Route 66 in the Land of Lincoln, the state that launched America’s Main Street.
By Theresa Russell |
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 wo generations of Americans have traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles on Route 66. Numerous books and travel guides have been written about the historic route. The Illinois portion of the Mother Road, particularly from Chicago to Springfield, has all the makings of a classic road trip.The Pontiac Trail in Illinois (also known as state Route 4) was constructed in 1918. It began in Cicero, and originally was to be a temporary route between Chicago and St. Louis. The road was given the U.S. Route 66 designation in 1926. By 1933, the eastern terminus for Illinois Route 66 had moved twice, first near the entrance of Grant Park on Jackson Boulevard, then close to the Art Institute of Chicago on Lake Shore Drive. In 1977, Illinois Route 66 was decommissioned, replaced by Interstate 55. The Windy City is a story in itself with plenty to do before heading out on the Mother Road. Some summer highlights here include the exhibit, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” at the Field Museum (1400 South Lake Shore Drive) May 26–Jan. 1, 2007. Another blockbuster exhibit, “Leonardo Da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius” is on view now through Sept. 4 at the Museum of Science and Industry (57th Street and Lake Shore Drive). Add festivals, like the Taste of Chicago June 30–July 9 and Tall Ships 2006 Aug. 3–9, and a summer visit to this brawny city will be more than full. From Chicago, Route 66 ran west on Adams Street to Ogden Avenue, traveling to Cicero, home to Henry’s Drive-In (6031 Ogden) a roadside eatery well known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, a dish that’s as American as Route 66 itself. Joliet After the hot dog stop, continue to Joliet, easily accessible off Interstate 55 and a logical starting point if saving Chicago for its own trip. Attractions here include the Argosy Empress Casino, but the real Route 66 gem is the spectacular Rialto Square Theater (102 N. Chicago St.) that dates to 1926 and is often considered to be one of the most beautiful in the nation. From Joliet, the route passes through rural areas and small towns. Wilmington, south on Illinois Route 53, is home to the Gemini Giant and the Launching Pad Restaurant, 810 E. Baltimore St. Down the road in Braidwood is the Polk-a-Dot Drive-In (222 N. Front St.) that opened in 1956. The food is good and the statues of Elvis, the Blues Brothers, Betty Boop, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean add to the flavor of this spot. The Polk-a-Dot hosts its annual Cruise Nite Aug. 5, which features food, music and contests. Many stops along this route, including the charming village of Dwight, will be off the beaten path. Dwight, south of Gardner off Illinois Route 53, has some noteworthy sites in town, including Ambler’s Texaco Station, located at the corner of Old Route 66 and Illinois Route 17. The 1940s-era station is on the National Registry of Historic Places and will be used as a Route 66 interpretive center when a restoration is complete. The First National Bank of Dwight, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, already has been restored to its original Prairie Style interior. One of the original desks is in the lobby. There’s also an interesting railroad depot in town, as well as the Fox Development Center with its Tiffany-style windows depicting the five senses. A red carpet welcome Approaching Pontiac, traffic passes by the historic Old Log Cabin Restaurant, 18700 Old Route 66. When the restaurant opened in 1926, it originally stood with Route 66 running between it and the railroad tracks. When the route’s alignment was changed in the 1940s, the restaurant was lifted up and turned around to make it more easily accessible to the new four-lane highway. Visitors get the red carpet welcome in Pontiac. Take advantage of free trolley tours (reservations requested). The Route 66 Museum and Hall of Fame (110 W. Howard St.), a labor of love for tour guide Jim Jones, transforms the old fire station into an historic repository of Route 66. The collections of artifacts and memorabilia are impressive. The Veteran’s Museum at Main and Howard streets honors the locals who served their country. Visitors can touch and try on equipment that soldiers used. Museum volunteers are veterans, so their stories bring a human element to the objects. Pontiac is the city of swinging bridges and three can be found in the city park along the river, which has tables for a family picnic. The big draw in Lexington, on Illinois Route 8, is Memory Lane (Old Route 66 North). This original stretch of Route 66 pavement is open to cyclists and walkers. Old billboards and markers help conjure up memories of the old days. A Route 66 Reunion is held here every year on the second weekend in September. Atlanta’s “Tall Paul” Exiting I-55 at McLean, travelers can stop at the Dixie Truck Stop, home to the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame. In Atlanta, the next town to the southwest, Main Street is the original Route 66. The town has several attractions, including the Route 66 Park with its large mural and picnic spots, Hamblin’s Superette Grocery and “Tall Paul,” a 19-foot-high Route 66 icon that originally welcomed diners to Bunyon’s hot dog stand in Cicero for 37 years. When the eatery closed, Tall Paul relocated to Atlanta. The best apple pie on Route 66 comes from the Bluestem Bake Shop in the tiny town of Elkhart off I-55 on County Road 10. Attached to the bakery, the Frontier Archaeological Museum features artifacts from area excavations. Lincoln’s Springfield Route 66 entered Springfield along the current I-55 Business Route. The city is well-known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, who left in 1861 to become our 16th president. Springfield has several wonderful Lincoln-related attractions, including an intriguing new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 112 N. Sixth St., that depicts the president’s life from his boyhood years until his assassination. The lifelike mannequins add to the experience. There’s also a special exhibit through October, “Mrs. President: From Martha to Laura,” that shouldn’t be missed. An interesting new Lincoln feature in Springfield is “Lincoln’s Ghost Walk: Legends and Lore,” a 90-minute walking tour of downtown historic sites with costumed guides that depict ghostly stories and history surrounding the president. Tours begin at 7:30 p.m. from 3 W. Old State Capital Plaza on Wednesday–Saturday now through Oct. 31. Route 66 attractions–and they are also plentiful–include Shea’s Gas Station Museum (2075 Peoria Road), the Route 66 Twin Drive-In Theater (1700 Recreation Drive) and the Cozy Dog Drive-In (2935 S. Sixth St.). Another culinary stop in Springfield is the Red Coach Cattle Company (301 N. Grand Ave. West) that has one of the best horseshoe sandwiches in the area. The horseshoes–famous in Springfield–are large and come in a variety of types. The open-faced sandwiches traditionally consist of a hamburger or pile of ham on bread, topped with fries and smothered in melted cheese sauce. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Dana-Thomas house (301 E. Lawrence), a wonderful attraction for visitors. Guided tours are available; call ahead for hours and tour times (217-782-6776). Finally, Springfield will host the fifth annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival and Car Show, Sept. 22–24 (see related story). There are many more hidden gems to discover along Route 66. Reading books and articles about this historic route is fine, but driving the Mother Road is an adventure into the past. Theresa Russell is a contributor from Round Lake, N.Y. |
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| Springfield plans fest for Route 66
Bobby Troup’s 1946 song, “Route 66,” encouraged a generation to “get their kicks” on the historic road. Today, Route 66 continues to inspire a good time, and one of the area’s biggest festivals honoring the Mother Road takes place in Springfield, Ill. |
 The festival’s car show. Springfield Illinois CVB photo |
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Here are some of our picks for more stops along the Mother Road in Illinois and Missouri.
by Deborah Reinhardt Palmer |
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 road trip in Illinois and Missouri following Route 66 is filled with adventure. Roadside eateries, quirky tourist stops and bits of history are waiting.Here are a few of our favorite picks along this famous route. The signature sandwich for Springfield, Ill., may be the horseshoe, but Route 66 fans know about the Cozy Dog Drive In, 2935 S. Sixth St. This eatery has been a favorite stop on Route 66 since the late 1950s. Ed Waldmire created his delicacy–a hot dog dipped in special batter and fried golden–in 1945. Pair this cholesterol pop with fries doused in vinegar and an ice-cold soda. Not much has changed in 50 years at the Cozy Dog. Mauve and turquoise booths welcome diners as rock music blares in the background. Another throwback to the 1950s is the Route 66 Twin Drive In Theater, 1700 Recreation Drive, in Springfield. For just a little cash ($5 adults, $3 children age 3–12), parents can show their kids how they watched movies during the summer–under the stars. It’s open nightly at dusk through Labor Day. Get there early to soak up the atmosphere, or let the kids play at Knights Action Park next door. The two combine for a fun family night out. Various Route 66 memorabilia collections can be found in central Illinois. Hard-core history hounds may want to stop by the Railsplitter (the world’s largest covered wagon) in Divernon; the Pig Hip Museum, 101 W. Oak St. in Broadwell; Die Cast Auto Sales, 117 N. Elm St. in Williamsville; and Route 66 Dream Car Museum, also in Williamsville. West of Springfield is little Litchfield, Ill., home to the Ariston Diner, open for lunch and dinner. This Route 66 staple at 413 Old Route 66 North is famous for homemade pies. Should you reach Litchfield before the lunch hour, don’t despair. Next door is Jubelt’s Bakery and Restaurant. Try the biscuits and gravy here. Sour cream donuts are great when paired with hot coffee. Cross the Mississippi River on Interstate 55/Poplar Street Bridge into Missouri, which claims 280 miles of Route 66. Of course, the original Mississippi River crossing on Route 66 was the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The 77-year-old bridge (Missouri entrance 11000 Riverview Drive) is famous for its 22-degree bend. Built as a toll bridge in 1929 at a cost of $2.5 million, the bridge closed in 1967. After extensive renovation, the bridge is now operated by Trailnet and is open weekends through November as a hiking and biking trail. South of downtown St. Louis is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (6726 Chippewa), which has served the famous “concrete” shakes (vanilla custard blended with fruits and candies) since 1929. Pick up Interstate 44 and head west to Interstate 270 north, exiting at Dougherty Ferry. The Museum of Transportation (3015 Barrett Station Road) has vintage cars included in its collection. Drive west on I-44 from the museum to Route 66 State Park near Eureka. The 409-acre park has trails for biking and hiking, picnic sites and a visitor center with displays about Route 66 history in Missouri. West of Eureka off I-44 in Stanton is one of the route’s classic tourist attractions, Meramec Caverns. The billboards that dot the interstate beginning just outside St. Louis will make sure you find exit 230. Cave tours ($15 for adults, $8 for children) highlight the stunning formations and retell legends about the cave. Also at the site are campgrounds, canoe floats, riverboat rides and a place to pan for gemstones (popular with the children). A restaurant and gift shop also are on the premises. In St. James, drive the old Route 66, a five-block stretch of the first divided Route 66 payment in America. St. James, west of Stanton, is also home to fine Missouri wineries, including Ferrigno Vineyards, Meramec Vineyards, Rosati Winery and St. James Winery. Between St. James and Rolla, travelers along I-44 may see wooden stands that sell Concord grapes from area vineyards. Cruise down I-44 to Pulaski County, Lebanon and Springfield, where the Gillioz Theater was built in 1926, the same year Route 66 was commissioned. Take I-44 west of Springfield and turn onto state Highway 96 west to Carthage, where visitors will find another vintage drive-in theater. Route 66 Drive-In at 17231 Old 66 Blvd. is restored and shows current movies for $5 (adults) and $2 (children) Friday–Sunday. Precious Moments Park (4321 Chapel Road) is a must for collectors of these wide-eyed statuettes. View the chapel and gardens in the park ($9 adults, $4 children). Webb City and Joplin are the final stops along Route 66 in Missouri. Road trippers will get more than their share of kicks along the Midwestern stretch of Route 66. For more ideas in Missouri, click on www.visitmo.com. The Route 66 Association of Missouri hosts its 17th annual motor tour Sept. 8–10. Register at www.missouri66.org. |
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