Illinois, Land of Lincoln ... Where the Road Begins

Read more about the Route 66 license program at IllinoisRoute66.org

Springfield, Illinois

Springfield has lots to see for Route 66 travelers, from the Lincoln Presidential Museum to the State Capitol and so much more. For more information on area tourism ... Springfield Convention & Visitor Bureau website

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield, Illinois

Cozy Dog Drive In

The Cozy Dog Drive in is home of the original hot dog on a stick, dipped in batter and deep friend. It has been owned and operated by the Ed Waldmire family on famous Route 66 in Springfield, since 1949.

Located at 2935 South Sixth Street, Springfield, IL 62703. Read more about the Cozy Dog Drive In

Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum

Motorheads is located at 600 Toronto Road in Springfield. Read more about Motorheads or Motorheads on Facebook.

Shea's ... In Earlier Days

This well-known building was transformed from a working Texaco, and later Marathon, station into a museum by owner Bill Shea and his wife Helen. It was located at 2075 Peoria Road in Springfield.

Due to his commitment to preserving Route 66 history and gas station memorabilia, plus his many years of quality service to his customers, Bill Shea and his shop were inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in 1993. Bill died in December of 2013 and the gas station was sold, and its contents were auctioned in 2015.

The staff of our website have visited Springfield numerous times over the years. Shown below is an original photo of Shea's on Route 66 that we took on September 7, 2009.

In the right of our photo above, one can see the historic Mahan's Phillips 66 Filling Station. It was later moved in 2016 to Fulgenzi's Pizza at 1168 E. Sangamon Avenue in Springfield (see photo below).

Today, in 2023, plans are underway to restore at least a portion of Shea's back to earlier times. The City of Springfield has accepted a $623,000 state grant to reopen Bill Shea’s Station Museum along Route 66. The goal of the project is to restore the exterior as close as possible to how Bill Shea left it before his passing in 2013. Plans are to remove the front fencing, repave the front and side lots, freshen up the blue & white paint scheme and restore the exterior signage including decals on the garage doors.

Illinois State Fair Grounds

Route 66 Experience

This unique area is located at the Illinois State Fair Grounds in Springfield. It involves a walking tour that begins at the southernmost part of the route, at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison, Illinois, and travels north through over 90 Illinois communities along The Mother Road and into Chicago. It also features a new Neon Sign Park.

More information at the Visit Springfield Illinois website

Route 66 Experience opens as State Fair approaches
WCIA - Central Illinois - 07/28/2023

The Stadium Smokehouse Bar & Grill

The Stadium Smokehouse Bar & Grill is located at 2300 North Peoria Road in Springfield. In 2023, a new Route 66 mural was painted on the side of the building by artist Spencer Stokes @marsho217.

Stadium Smokehouse Bar & Grill website and Stadium Smokehouse on Facebook

Read more about other area outdoor art at VisitSpringfield

Auburn, Illinois

Listed on the National Register of Historical Places, this 1.4 mile section of hand-laid red brick on Route 66 survives today. It is located about two miles north of Auburn on Route 4.

Paved in sixteen-foot wide Portland Concrete circa 1921, this segment began as Illinois 4, serving as US 66 from 1926-1930. Later, in 1932, IL 4 was improved by widening the roadway and removing the ninety-degree turns, mostly by bypassing them. At this time, a brick surface was added to the route along Snell and Curran Roads.

Virden, Illinois

The beautiful new "Virden History Mural" has been completed downtown, documenting much of the history of the city since its establishment in 1852. It is located on the wall of the Sav Mor Pharmacy located on Historic Route 66 (Rt4).

More information about the design at VirdenMural.com

Girard, Illinois

Located on Highway 4 (the original 1926 Route 66 alignment) between Virden and Nilwood in Macoupin County is the City of Girard, home to over 1,500 residents.

The Girard Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and individuals organized to promote an economic environment, orderly growth and prosperity. Residents and visitors enjoy a variety of annual events, and camping at Hidden Ridge at nearby Otter Lake.

Girard is also home to the popular and well known Doc's Just Off 66 soda fountain, with a history dating back more than 100 years. It serves a variety of items, not just sodas, but sandwiches, salads, pork chops, burgers, breads, soups, beer and more! For detailed info, visit the Doc's Just Off 66 website and Doc's Just Off 66 on Facebook. It is located at 133 South 2nd Street. Phone 217.627.3491

Nilwood, Illinois

West of Nilwood about 3 miles along today's Highway 4 on Donaldson Road are the "Turkey Tracks". The tracks were created when the concrete was poured in the 1920s, and a turkey took the steps that remain famous.

Today, the tracks are marked with a sign, with a "Turkey" pointing to them, and are surrounded on the pavement with a square of white paint. A fun stop while touring Route 66 in Illinois!

Litchfield, Illinois

A good place to stop while on your Route 66 road trip is the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center.

Other popular Litchfield attractions include The Ariston Cafe and the Sky View Drive-in Theater.

334 Historic Old Route 66 North, Litchfield, IL 62056

More information about the Litchfield Museum

Sky View Drive-in Theater

The Sky View Drive-In Theater in Litchfield is in its 72nd consecutive season of bringing patrons big-screen entertainment. This outdoor movie theater opened in the spring of 1950. The Litchfield Sky View is one of four drive-ins nationwide that are located on the historic Mother Road and has been since its opening. It is also the only drive-in with that claim in Illinois.

The Litchfield Skyview Drive-in is not only a local tradition, it is a Route 66 hall of fame business. It remains one of several original Route 66 businesses on the Mother Road, in Litchfield. It operates seasonally, April through mid-October, and offers a grill onsite. The drive-in is Located at 1500 N. Historic Route 66 in Litchfield, IL 62056.

Read more at the website of the Sky View Drive -In Theater and Sky View on Facebook

The Ariston Cafe

The Ariston Cafe in Litchfield has been satisfying local patrons and international travelers on Route 66 since 1924. Today, this landmark dining experience continues to attract those who "remember where good food is served".

When you're cruisin' down Route 66 in Litchfield, and hunger strikes, take the time to check out one of the oldest American restaurants on the legendary highway. The Ariston Cafe opened its doors in 1924 and is one of the oldest continually-operated Route 66 restaurants still going today.

Located at 413 Old Route 66 N. Litchfield, IL 62056.
Read more at the website of the The Ariston Cafe

Mt. Olive, Illinois

Soulsby's Shell Service Station

Russell Soulsby built this station in 1926 with his father, Henry. He ran it with his sister Ola until 1991. For its 65 years of operation, they sold only Shell gasoline. The Soulsby Station is an excellent example of a "house with canopy" form.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. More information about Soulsby's at NPS

Staunton, Illinois

Henry's Rabbit Ranch ... HARE IT IS! ... Staunton, Illinois

Henry's Rabbit Ranch Station and Visitor's Center looks like a real old classic filling station once found all along Route 66. At Henry's Rabbit Ranch you'll find a wide selection real live rabbits, Volkswagon VW Rabbits, and Route 66 gift and collectible items too.The Ranch is located at 1107 Historic Old Route 66, Staunton, IL 62088 ... phone 618.635.5655

More information at ... Henry's Rabbit Ranch

Livingston, Illinois

The 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. Save room for ice cream!

More information about the Pink Elephant

Hamel, Illinois

Welcome to Hamel, Illinois ... Established 1884!

Hamel has two original Route 66 attractions, The Tourist Haven Restaurant, now Weezy’s Route 66, and the “Church of the Neon Cross” St. Paul Lutheran.

More information about Hamel, Illinois

West End Service Station in Edwardsville

In 2022, the City of Edwardsville partnered with Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau to purchase and restore this circa 1927 historic Route 66 landmark. It maps out the history of the iconic highway in Edwardsville. It opened in June of 2023 as a Route 66 interpretive center to take visitors on a nostalgic trip back in time through the stories and photos from past decades.

It is located at 620 St. Louis Street in Edwardsville. Read more about the station at the City of Edwardsville website

Collinsville, Illinois

Founded in 1872, and home to "The World's Largest Catsup Bottle"

Since 1949, this has been a favorite example of roadside architecture at its best! The catsup bottle is actually a 170-foot water tower, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

More information about the Catsup Bottle

Granite City and Madison County

In Madison County Illinois, U.S. Highway 66 ran nearly 40 miles from the Macoupin/Madison County line to the Mississippi River. The route entered the county just south of Staunton and flowed generally southwest through Hamel, Edwardsville, Mitchell, Nameoki, Granite City, Madison, and Venice to cross the Mississippi River on the McKinley Bridge.

Granite City is located in southwestern Illinois, close to the Mississippi River and St. Louis. Over the years, it has had multiple alignments of Route 66 run through the city. It is home to a number of Route 66 attractions, such as O'Brien Tire & Auto Care which started as a service station and garage in 1906. It is the oldest auto repair shop on Route 66 and is located at 3924 Nameoki Road on the original Route 66 alignment through Granite City. Be sure to stop and visit!

Mitchell is an unincorporated community northeast of Granite City. U.S. Route 66 ran through Mitchell and various businesses along the road became stops for travelers and truckers, such as the Luna Café, built in 1924.

For more information on Route 66 in southwestern Illinois, visit these websites:
Madison County Historical
Illinois.gov Route 66 Trail
Madison County - Route 66 Association of Illinois

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

The historic Chain of Rocks Bridge spanning the Mississippi River on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri was opened in 1929. The eastern end of the bridge is on Chouteau Island, (part of Madison, Illinois), while the western end is on the Missouri shoreline.

The bridge was part of U.S. Route 66 and linked two states: Illinois and Missouri. The bridge is short and narrow, only 1 mile long by 24 feet wide. It towers more than 60 feet above the water, and features a unique 30-degree turn midway across the river.

Construction cost of the bridge was over $2.5 million, twice its original estimate. The bridge had beautifully landscaped approaches. A park-like setting around a pool and a large, ornate toll booth anchored the Missouri end. On the Illinois side, 400 elm trees lined the approach. The bridge brought travelers into St. Louis by way of the picturesque Chain of Rocks amusement park on the Missouri hills overlooking the river. The bridge became an official part of the Route 66 experience in 1936, when the Mother Road was rerouted over the bridge.

In 1966, the New Chain of Rocks Bridge was built immediately to the old bridge's north in order to carry I-270; the old Chain of Rocks Bridge was closed in February of 1970. The bridge is currently open daily for pedestrians and biking; permits are required for automobile traffic for special events.

Current status, parking information and alerts about the bridge at the Great Rivers Greenway website

Chain of Rocks Bridge at NPS

Vintage view of the Chain of Rocks Bridge

More Information about Illinois Route 66

Enjoy Illinois - Office of Tourism: Route 66

Route 66 Association of Illinois

Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway

ChooseChicago.com

Illinois Route 66 Segments at NPS

We have included below a sampling of our collection of vintage travel postcards dealing with Illinois and Route 66.

What was Route 66 like in its earlier years, as visitors drove around and across Illinois? What did all the service stations, motels and public buildings look like when they were new?

What did the traveling public experience on the Mother Road? We wonder such things when we travel Route 66 today.

Those earlier times in the 1930s, 40s and 50s were not always captured on film. But the use of colorful postcards was common in those decades.

These portray the historic road in its prime and help us to visualize, and appreciate, "earlier times" as we drive Route 66 today across Illinois.