The Giants Along Route 66
Route 66 provides a variety of attractions and destination for travelers as they journey from Illinois to California. One type of quirky attraction is the "giants", commonly known as "muffler men".
These giant advertising characters typically range from 10-30 feet in height, and are moulded in fiberglass and polyester resin on steel frames. They frequently stood outside muffler shops and other businesses to bring customers inside.
Steve Dashew started the International Fiberglass Company in Venice, California, in 1963. His company produced thousands of giant statues of people, workers, animals, and other objects until its closure in 1974. Another builder of fiberglass giants was Bob Prewitt who operated Prewitt Fiberglass Animals.
Many of the giants assumed the same position: arms bent at the elbows, with one hand facing up and the other hand facing down. This position allowed the giant to hold some object, such as a muffler, hot dog, axe or wrench.
Featured on this page are just a few of the "Route 66 Giants" seen when traveling on The Mother Road!
The Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois810 E. Baltimore Street  next to the Launching Pad Drive-In
|
|
Paul Bunyon in Atlanta, IllinoisStanding 19 feet tall and clutching a giant hot dog, this Paul Bunyon statue (not “bunyan” purposely spelled with an “o”). It is one of Illinois Route 66’s famous "Muffler Man" Statues, joining others like the Gemini Giant in Wilmington and the Lauterbach Giant in Springfield. Bunyon's statue is located in Atlanta at 112 SW Arch Street, across from the Palms Grill Café, which features fine fare from The Mother Road’s golden age. |
|
 |
 |
American Giants MuseumThe Atlanta Betterment Fund organization is providing a home for the American Giants Museum in the City of Atlanta, Illinois. The new, one-of-a-kind experience will be located at the corner of Arch & Vine Streets, on a 1926 alignment of Route 66 in downtown Atlanta. The American Giants Museum tells the story of the kitschy and quirky “Muffler Man/Bunyan Giant” statues that sprang up in the 1960s as advertising gimmicks across the USA. Shown below is an exterior view of the museum, and one of the first "giants" on display on the museum grounds in the spring of 2023. For more information, opening dates and times, visit the website of the American Giants Museum Route 66 Giants Move into Atlanta, Illinois |
|
 |
 |
The Lauterbach Giant in Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield has lots to see for Route 66 travelers, from the Lincoln Presidential Museum to the State Capitol and so much more. Lauterbach Tire and Auto Service has a fiberglass "muffler man" giant standing in the parking lot. He used to hold a tire, but was recently upgraded to be more patriotic with a U.S. flag. It is located at 1569 Wabash Avenue in Springfield. For more information on area tourism ... Springfield Convention & Visitor Bureau website |
Lauterbach Giant |
The Uniroyal Girl and Beach Boy in Livingston, IllinoisThe Pink Elephant Antique Mall is located in the former Livingston High School building, and offers wares from than 50 antique dealers. A quaint diner onsite offers burgers, nachos, sandwiches, and refreshments. Outside, visitors are welcomed by a giant "Uniroyal Gal" and a nearby "Beach Boy" and "Harley" man. It is located at 908 Veterans Memorial Drive in Livingston. |
||
|
Uranus, MissouriUranus is a tourist attraction in unincorporated rural Pulaski County along the former U.S. Route 66. "It's Not a Town, It's a Destination." And in 2021 a 20-foot "Muffler Man" was installed ... the Mega Mayor of Uranus! |
 |
Chef Muffler ManThis 25-foot tall "Muffler Man" carries a spatula and meat fork, and wears a chef's hat. Located at the Route 66 Food Truck Park, 1530 East St. Louis Street in Springfield, Missouri |
"Big Bill" at the Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, OklahomaThe newest "Muffler Man" on Route 66 was installed at the family-owned Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma, in June of 2023. He towers about 24 feet in height; at his feet is a large suitcase. Alan and Beth Hilburn own and operate the cafe. "Big Bill" is named after the late Bill Wood, Beth's father. In November of 2022, in coordination with Mobil1, the Hi-Way Cafe set a Guinness World Record for the “Most Stickers on a Car”. Using a 1963 American Rambler and over 100 volunteers the cafe placed 60,066 half inch stickers over the body of the car and was declared a Guinness World Record Holder. This car is currently housed inside the cafe in the “garage” where customers can dine around the car. The Hi-Way Cafe is also home to a “Giving Wall”. This is a program where people can donate prepaid meals for customers that cannot afford a meal. In March of 2023, thanks in part to grants from the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program, the Hi-Way Cafe was able to relight its restored iconic neon sign. The Cafe is located at 437918 E Highway 60, about two miles west of Vinita. Learn more at the Hi-Way Cafe website and the Hi-Way Cafe on Facebook. Phone 918.256.5465 |
|
 |
 |
The Golden Driller in Tulsa
The Golden Driller is a 76-foot, 22-ton statue of an oil worker in Tulsa, located outside the Tulsa Expo Center. It is the 6th tallest statue in the United States. The plaque at the base reads "The Golden Driller, a symbol of the International Petroleum Exposition. Dedicated to the men of the petroleum industry who by their vision and daring have created from God’s abundance a better life for mankind." Located at 4145 E. 21st Street in Tulsa. |
Tulsa's Buck Atom
Located in a former site of a 1950s PEMCO gas station, Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 welcomes visitors from all over to celebrate the magic of the Mother Road with apparel, toys, souvenirs, home accessories, art, jewelry and more. Stop by this unique retailer for a fun photo op with the 21-foot-tall Muffler Man, Buck Atom, space cowboy. This bigger than life man is located at 1347 E. 11th Street in Tulsa. More info at the Buck Atom's 66 Website |
The Giant Native AmericanThis giant Native American statue is located at the Indian Trading Post and Art Gallery at 825 South Walbaum Road in Calumet, Oklahoma. It was previously located at the David Howe Auto dealership off Route 66 until 2010. The Trading Post features Native American themed apparel, hand-beaded jewelry, and other memorabilia. This nostalgic store also carries Native American art from a large number of nearby tribes including pottery, paintings and other great pieces. Phone the Trading Post at 405.884.5599 for more information, and about opening times. |
The 2nd Amendment Cowboy near Amarillo, TexasThe Cadillac RV Park is located just west of Amarillo, at the intersection of I-40 and Hope Road near the Cadillac Ranch. The 2nd Amendment Cowboy stands tall at the RV Park. |
||||
|
||||
Lumberjack Man in AlbuquerqueThis giant lumberjack man holding an ax is located on the roof of the May Cafe in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 27-foot tall giant sits atop a 20-foot tall platform. The cafe, which specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, is located at 111 Louisiana Boulevard SE, near the intersection with Central Avenue. Before housing the May Cafe, the building was the home of Shofner Lumber Company, who originally erected the lumberjack man. More information about the restaurant can be found at the May Cafe website |
Lumberjack Muffler Man in FlagstaffThe 20-foot tall Louie the Lumberjack Muffler Man is located on the Northern Arizona University (NAU) campus in Flagstaff, Arizona, not far from Route 66. The lumberjack is the mascot of the University; one of these lumberjacks stands outside, and one inside, the Walkup Skydome stadium. The pair was formerly located outside of the Lumberjack Cafe (now called Granny's Closet) on Route 66. |
