Route 66 Road Trip to Dwight, Illinois
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U.S. Route 66 was one of the United State's first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west.
"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Most travelers seem to start their journey on Route 66 in Chicago, and head westbound. That is the direction we take on this website. But others start in Santa Monica and drive eastward to Chicago.
The beginning point of Route 66 in Chicago has changed over the years. Today, the starting point is at East Adams Street at South Michigan Avenue, and the end point is at East Jackson at South Michigan. One way streets in the area can be difficult to navigate for first-time Route 66 visitors!
Outside the metropolitan Chicago area, Route 66 followed the Pontiac Trail, a former Indian trail and stagecoach road.
From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed southwest to Romeoville, Joliet, Wilmington, Braidwood, Gardner and Dwight.
Dwight, Illinois
The Village of Dwight is located in northeastern Livingston County, and is about 78 miles southwest of Chicago, and 220 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. It has a population of over 4,000 residents.
The C&A Railroad Depot, built in 1891, served for a time as the Village Hall, and is now home to the Dwight Historical Society and the Dwight Economic Alliance.
In 1921 paving was finished on the Chicago to Springfield road, which in 1926 was designated as part of U.S. Route 66. In 1964 the first phase of Interstate 55 was completed, passing Dwight to the north and west.
Across the street from the Depot is the First National Bank of Dwight, designed by Architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905, and put on the National Register of Historic Places. Lions Lake Park is a pleasant place to stop on your road trip, with bathrooms provided.
Dwight's well-known historic windmill is located outside the former Oughton Estate. The original Oughton Carriage House now serves as the public library.
Today, Dwight remains a popular stop for those travelers on road trips across Illinois Route 66!
Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 in Illinois and the location of Dwight
Visit Dwight Illinois on Route 66! |
Ambler's Texaco StationAmbler’s Texaco Station was built in 1933 at the corner of Route 17 and Old Route 66, and serviced travelers at that location until 1999. The station gets its name from longtime manager Basil “Tubby” Ambler, who operated the station from 1938 to 1966. Gas stations in those early years were styled to be homey and inviting to customers, as well as inconspicuous in their residential, suburban surroundings. This station definitely has that "cottage look and feel". The station operated as a gas station until 1999 and was an auto repair shop until 2002, when the owner Phillip Becker generously donated the station to the Village of Dwight. So, sometimes it is called the Ambler/Becker Station. The building, now a popular Route 66 Roadside Attraction, has been renovated and is now Dwight's visitor's and information center. Read more about Ambler's Texaco Station at the National Park Service (NPS)
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More to see near Ambler's StationAdjacent to and just north of the historic Ambler/Becker station are these signs and photo ops, including the Oldsmobile ... |
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My family's destination is Dwight ...
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The "Route 66 Experience" hub at Ambler's |
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More Scenes Around Dwight
The Dwight Train Depot ... home to the Dwight Historical Society and the Dwight Economic Alliance |
Dwight Library |
Farmer's Market |
Amtrak Station in Dwight  |
Dwight Fire Protection District |
When in Dwight, be sure to be on the lookout for the K-9 police dog! A great looking Basset Hound :-)
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Interactive Map of Dwight Illinois
Dwight Area Lodging
Dwight Travel Guide at TripAdvisor: Hotels, restaurants, things to do |
Hotels in Pontiac with reviews at TripAdvisor |
More Information about Dwight & Illinois Route 66 |
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Website of the Village of Dwight, Illinois Dwight, Illinois Weather at WeatherUnderground Dwight Travel Guide at TripAdvisor: Hotels, restaurants, things to do |
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