Atlanta in Logan County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wheels of Fortune on 66
Business Followed the Highway
By Jason Voigt, September 28, 2020
1. Wheels of Fortune on 66 Marker
Atlanta boomed when Route 66 was built in the 1920s.It didn't last. By 1947 the busy road was rebuilt to bypass town to the east. New businesses flourished on the bypass only to fail again when I-55 replaced the Mother Road in 1977. Recently, a rebirth of interest in historic Route 66 has pumped life back into Atlanta.
Waiting for the Greyhound Bus
As a stop for the Greyhound Bus Line, many journeys began and ended at the Palms Grill. Passengers flipped a switch to light the bottom of the neon sign alerting the bus driver to stop.
(photo captions:)
Opening in 1934, the Palms Grill attracted travelers on Route 66. Downtown cafes and gas stations did more than serve highway travelers. They were places where townsfolk gathered to share gossip, negotiate deals, and fall in love.
Opened around 1920, the Deep Rock Station on Arch Street was alive with customers when Route 66 traveled through downtown Atlanta.
Businesses were abandoned when Route 66 bypassed downtown Atlanta in 1947.
Erected by
By Jason Voigt, September 28, 2020
2. Wheels of Fortune on 66 Marker
Next to the Drinking Fountain marker
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the U.S. Route 66 🛣️ series list.
Location. 40° 15.64′ N, 89° 13.916′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Illinois, in Logan County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of South East Race Street and SW Arch Street. Marker is located at Atlanta's Route 66 Park, with several other markers. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 107 S E Race St, Atlanta IL 61723, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Drinking Fountain (here, next to this marker); Field Marker Stone (here, next to this marker); Welcome to the Atlanta Route 66 Park (here, next to this marker); Knights of Pythias "Memorial Tree" Stone (a few steps from this marker); 1870 Atlanta Public School Stone (a few steps from this marker); Atlanta High School Cornerstone (a few steps from this marker); "Atlanta: Midway on Illinois' Mother Road" Mural (a few steps from this marker); "Palms Grill Café" Mural (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.
More about this marker. This is one of 30+ Wayside Exhibits erected by the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway along Old Route 66 in Illinois. Each wayside was placed at a site with historic significance and tells the story of the site’s relationship to Route 66. The interpretive stations use illustrations, pictures, and audio to explore each site.
Some have a passport stamp that can be collected by simply placing a piece of paper over the raised engraving and using a pencil to make a rubbing of the stamp. Also, some feature audio recordings, as this one contains audio from local Paul Adams (it worked as of late-September 2020).
This is one of two Wayside Exhibits originally placed in Atlanta.
By Jason Voigt, September 28, 2020
3. Route 66 Park
Marker is located here, along with several local pieces of history.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 38 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 14, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 3. submitted on November 25, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
RSS Feed