Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Welcome to Route 66 Illinois. , Route 66, the Mother Road, is an American icon that symbolizes romance and freedom of the open road. Born in 1926, Route 66 was one of the first numbered U.S. highways, journeying 2,500 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Today, you can still "get your kicks on Route 66" by exploring the Illinois Historic Route 66 National Scenic Byway., The Mother Road, Route 66 was the road of flight for people escaping the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. It was the route of adventure for families seeking the wonders of the Southwest and California in the 1950s and '60s., Roadside Oddities, Quirky attractions lured travelers off the road with the promise of fun and adventure. Explore giants, museums, and other attractions that still exist today., Fill 'er Up?, Service stations along Route 66 did more than just pump gas. Friendly attendants assisted travelers with a smile. Today, you can rediscover several historic service stations. , On to Missouri, The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is the scenic endpoint of Route 66 in Illinois. It served as a crossing over the Mississippi River for traffic from 1936 to 1955. It is now open for walking and biking. , The Beginning , Historic Route 66 starts in downtown Chicago, the business and cultural capital of the Midwest. It travels through bustling Chicago suburbs before reaching the rural countryside., Main Street of America, Grain elevators and fields greet modern travelers, much as they did in earlier eras. Journey through prairie farmland and friendly Midwestern towns., Good Eatin', Diners and cafes sprang up along the road catering to people on the move. You can still enjoy home style cooking from a time before fast food. , Route 66 Lives On, Unable to compete with fast-moving freeways, U.S. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985. Nostalgia for hometowns and America's landscape, fueled by movies, TV shows, and music, keeps the Mother Road alive. , (reverse, top:), Crossing the Mississippi, Confluence of Rivers, North America's two greatest rivers, the Mississippi and the Missouri, meet in the heart of the St. Louis Area. For centuries, people have been drawn to this confluence and its abundant resources. From here you can explore a network of interconnected trails and attractions along the Mississippi linking Illinois and Missouri., Route 66 Bridges - Multiple Crossings, Overs its 50 year history, Route 66 crossed the Mississippi River a five different locations. Increasing traffic forced the highway to ever larger bridges for safety and convenience., 1. McKinley Bridge: 1926-1929 (Optional 66 1929-1937), The McKinley Bridge (named for the builder) opened in 1910 as a toll bridge operated by the City of Venice. Visit the "Salute to Steel" sculpture at the McKinley Bridge Roadside Park. A kiosk interprets the region's cities, transportation, geography, and industry. The bridge is open to traffic and has a pedestrian lane., 2. MacArthur/Municipal "Free" Bridge: 1929-1935 (City 66 1936-1955), Built in 1909, this bridge wasn't opened for traffic until 1917 due to lack of funds to complete the approaches. In 1928, the bridge was also opened to trains. It was closed to cars in 1981, but trains still use it., 3. Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: 1936-1955 (Bypass 66: 1955-1965), Built as a private toll bridge in 1929, it was later turned over to the city of Madison, Illinois. It served as a Route 66 crossing for 30 years, the longest of any bridge. In 1967, the New Chain of Rocks Bridge was built immediately to the north and the old bridge was closed to traffic., 4. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge: 1950-1967 (Business 66: 1967-1969), Originally named the Veterans Memorial Bridge when built in 1951, it opened as a toll bridge. The bridge carries Interstate Highway traffic today., 5. Poplar Street Bridge: 1967-1977, Opened in 1967, the last bridge that Route 66 crossed still carries Interstate Highway traffic. It spans the south end of "Bloody Island," so called because several Missouri politicians fought duels here. Robert E. Lee connected the island to the mainland with landfill in the 1850s. , (reverse, bottom:), Gateway to the West - Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, A soaring "mile long" crossing over the Mississippi was a memorable passage for Route 66 motorists. This unique bridge served as a Route 66 crossing from 1936-1965. As travelers waited to pay the toll, anticipation grew for the breathtaking view and rounding the sharp bend in the middle. , What's in a Name?, A treacherous stretch of rapids here is formed by underwater rock lodges described as a "chain of rocks.", The bridge was built in 1929 as a toll bridge. The distinctive 22-degree bend in the middle resulted from the need to build on sold rock footings., A Travel Destination, This river crossing was a milestone for long distance travelers. Four hundred elm trees lined the Illinois approach to the bridge. Brightly lit restaurants and motels sprang up on the river bank to welcome the hungry and tired. Just over the bridge, families enjoyed the Chain of Rocks Amusement Park., Today, you can relive this excitement by walking or biking on one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world (5,454 feet long).