Wilmington, Illinois

Wilmington, Illinois. Welcome to Route 66 Illinois. , (front:), 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 panel:), Route 66 Attractions in the Wilmington Region, 1) Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - Visit the Welcome Center just 3 miles north of here to discover the largest tallgrass prairie restoration in North America. , 2) Launching Pad Drive-in and Gemini Giant - This classic Route 66 drive-in opened in 1960 to serve hot dogs and ice cream. Get your photo taken with the Gemini Giant, a fiberglass "Muffler Man" holding a rocket., 3) Sinclair Dinosaur - Look on the roof of G&D Tires for this dinosaur statute, the symbol of Sinclair Oil since 1933. , 4) Mar Theater - This classic movie theater has been featuring first-run films since 1937., 5) Eagle Hotel - Built as a stage shop in 1836, this hotel was already 90 years old when Route 66 was designated. , 6) Polk-a-Dot Drive In - In 1962, hot dogs were served out of a bus covered in colored polk-a-dots. Don't miss the good food and memorabilia at this 1950s-style drive in., 7) Art Deco Service Station - This historic station began serving Route 66 travelers in 1939., 8) Ill. Rte. 66 Mining Museum - Experience the "Mother Lode" of Illinois mining history along the Mother Road., 9) Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area - This reclaimed strip mine is a great place to watch wildlife and to hunt for fossils (permit required). , 10) Two-Cell Jail - Take a picture behind bars and listen to an audio message at this historic jail built in 1906., 11) Historic Streetcar Diner - This Kankakee horse drawn street car came to Gardner in 1932 to serve as a diner for Route 66 travelers., (reverse, bottom panel:), "The Island City" - Route 66 in Wilmington , You are standing on an island surrounded by the scenic Kankakee River, the source of Wilmington's nickname, "The Island City." People have crossed the river here for hundreds of years. It was a winter camp of the Potawatomi tribe. In 1834, Thomas Cox harnessed the water for a saw mill and soon after platted the town. Route 66 passed through here from 1926 to 1939. , Eagle Hotel, Cox's Mill drew settlers from a wide area to grind their wheat and corn into flour. The Eagle Hotel was built in 1836 to accommodate these farmers and as a stage stop between Chicago and Pontiac. , The Gemini Giant, The most photographed citizen of Wilmington is not a person. He is The Gemini Giant, a 1960's "muffler man" at the Launching Pad Drive-in. These enormous advertising characters towered over roads across America, clutching mufflers, hot dogs, axes, and, in Wilmington, a rocket ship.