A PHer"s guide to Route 66 Part 2 - Illinois
Discussion
Here is where it all starts - Chicago. In 1926 there was finally going to be an interstate across the US,after lots of wrangling. Led by a Tulsa businessman, Cyrus Avery, the states hammered out an agreement. It would be narrow or wide as the states could afford, and it would be a while before it all got paved, but it would begin the era of long distance driving. Illinois is very broken up when it comes to Route 66, so using the E-Z guide is essential.
The beginning (and end) of Route 66 is opposite the Art Institute of Chicago on two parallel streets. This is not a guide to that city, but it is a wonderful place, superb restaurants, art, and architecture. Surrounding the Institute is some wonderful public art.
Strolling on 66 you cannot miss the El, Chicago's famed elevated railway which always reminds me of the French Connection (even though it was filmed in Brooklyn)...
The waterways are also very pleasant:
A very traditional Route 66 restaurant since before 66 existed is Lou Mitchell's which serves good diner food, especially great omelettes.
The Berghoff is also a well known 66 institution:
WILMINGTON
Route 66 roughly parallels I-55, and as you travel south you will come to Wilmington, Here on old 66 you will find the first of the three Illinois Giants, huge advertising figures used to lure in travellers. The Gemini Giant was the mascot of the Launching Pad Drive In, now defunct.
There is a nice old diner just South of the giant:
ODELL
In Odell there is a beautiful preserved gas station, one of several on 66
PONTIAC ILLINOIS
Not to be confused with Pontiac Michigan, Route 66 runs right through here, and the town has decorated a square with murals.. The Mayor, ( who had a shirt embroidered with "Mayor of Pontiac"), is an affable fellow who showed his 1938 Pontiac. Aso here is a Route 66 Museum and a Walldog ( Signs) 66 Museum, and an auto museum. The streets have little kid seats of concrete from the movie "Cars" which used a lot of real 66 iconography.
A new business, Octane 66 had opened that week, with original memorabilia and a variety of classic cars...no time to visit it this trip.
[IMG]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n29/RMcG/Route%2066%20May%202014/P5030462_zpsd600c619.jpg[/IMG
BLOOMINGTON
DIxie truck stop,-reputedly the first truck stop has a small 66 museum
ATLANTA
Home to the excellent Palms restaurant, the small town of Atlanta Ill is also home to one of the three giants of Illinois, huge fibreglass figures used as advertisements to lure travellers to a variety of businesses on 66. This figure was originally Paul Bunyan holding an axe, (now misspelt Paul Bunyon) and now holds a hot dog in a Bun. A Czech film crew and Harley expedition arrived when we visited. It is quite common for foreign visitors to rent a guide and a troop of Harleys to make the trip.
SPRINGFIELD, the state capital
Abraham Lincoln Home:
. Old Abe lived there till he went to Washington, and ,of course, never returned. His wife was committed to an asylum, ( in my view, because of the wallpaper) and ultimately the house was given to the nation. The Parks service conducts an excellent and free tour, worth the visit.
The outhouse contains a rather convivial three-holer….
The third giant, the Lautenbach Giant lives in Springfield:
LITCHFIELD
The Ariston Cafe was founded in 1924 along the side of what became Route 66 by Pete Adam. In 1935, 66 was rerouted, and he moved the restaurant to a new building that year, built at a cost of $4300. Despite the Depression, the restaurant prospered, at one time boasting a couple of gas pumps. Once again 66 was re routed, from the front to the back of the restaurant, so he simply moved the entrance to the other side.! Today, his son Nick, still runs the restaurant, largely unchanged, and it is being passed down to Nick's son. Nick shows us Route 66 books in a variety of languages given to him by their authors. The German books are autographed and annotated by German visitors, the Japanese in Kanji by Japanese Route 66 fans and so on. He tells me that Germans are particularly fascinated by Route 66 lore and are frequent diners. The food is very good, and the place looks much like it did in 1935. Prices are moderate, but not quite at the level of the original menu on the wall, when a steak was 85 cents. Unlike so many places along 66, business in booming. Here in Illinois, you have to look for historical parts of 66 and very little of it remains unchanged. Update 2015: The restaurant continues as usual, but the family has announced that it is for sale. Sad to see it leave family ownership.
Nick, the Proprietor:
MOUNT OLIVE
A Shell station in the same family from its opening in a1928 to closing in 1991 sits in 66, not preserved, though the sign needs some work. A small museum and T shirt store is inside..
Staunton, Ill, is where Rich Henry runs Henry's Rabbit Ranch. Rich is a Route 66 aficionado, and likes Rabbits. Outside is a mini- Cadillac Ranch display of VW Rabbits (For Europeans VW Golfs, but they do not fit the story as well:
In the yard are more VWs and other cars , and a very large rabbit...
Some Route 66 Memorabilia:
A Rabbit graveyard:
While inside the store,some live rabbits chew away contentedly:
As time goes by I will add more for Illinois, but we are off to Missouri in Part 3
The beginning (and end) of Route 66 is opposite the Art Institute of Chicago on two parallel streets. This is not a guide to that city, but it is a wonderful place, superb restaurants, art, and architecture. Surrounding the Institute is some wonderful public art.
Strolling on 66 you cannot miss the El, Chicago's famed elevated railway which always reminds me of the French Connection (even though it was filmed in Brooklyn)...
The waterways are also very pleasant:
A very traditional Route 66 restaurant since before 66 existed is Lou Mitchell's which serves good diner food, especially great omelettes.
The Berghoff is also a well known 66 institution:
WILMINGTON
Route 66 roughly parallels I-55, and as you travel south you will come to Wilmington, Here on old 66 you will find the first of the three Illinois Giants, huge advertising figures used to lure in travellers. The Gemini Giant was the mascot of the Launching Pad Drive In, now defunct.
There is a nice old diner just South of the giant:
ODELL
In Odell there is a beautiful preserved gas station, one of several on 66
PONTIAC ILLINOIS
Not to be confused with Pontiac Michigan, Route 66 runs right through here, and the town has decorated a square with murals.. The Mayor, ( who had a shirt embroidered with "Mayor of Pontiac"), is an affable fellow who showed his 1938 Pontiac. Aso here is a Route 66 Museum and a Walldog ( Signs) 66 Museum, and an auto museum. The streets have little kid seats of concrete from the movie "Cars" which used a lot of real 66 iconography.
A new business, Octane 66 had opened that week, with original memorabilia and a variety of classic cars...no time to visit it this trip.
[IMG]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n29/RMcG/Route%2066%20May%202014/P5030462_zpsd600c619.jpg[/IMG
BLOOMINGTON
DIxie truck stop,-reputedly the first truck stop has a small 66 museum
ATLANTA
Home to the excellent Palms restaurant, the small town of Atlanta Ill is also home to one of the three giants of Illinois, huge fibreglass figures used as advertisements to lure travellers to a variety of businesses on 66. This figure was originally Paul Bunyan holding an axe, (now misspelt Paul Bunyon) and now holds a hot dog in a Bun. A Czech film crew and Harley expedition arrived when we visited. It is quite common for foreign visitors to rent a guide and a troop of Harleys to make the trip.
SPRINGFIELD, the state capital
Abraham Lincoln Home:
. Old Abe lived there till he went to Washington, and ,of course, never returned. His wife was committed to an asylum, ( in my view, because of the wallpaper) and ultimately the house was given to the nation. The Parks service conducts an excellent and free tour, worth the visit.
The outhouse contains a rather convivial three-holer….
The third giant, the Lautenbach Giant lives in Springfield:
LITCHFIELD
The Ariston Cafe was founded in 1924 along the side of what became Route 66 by Pete Adam. In 1935, 66 was rerouted, and he moved the restaurant to a new building that year, built at a cost of $4300. Despite the Depression, the restaurant prospered, at one time boasting a couple of gas pumps. Once again 66 was re routed, from the front to the back of the restaurant, so he simply moved the entrance to the other side.! Today, his son Nick, still runs the restaurant, largely unchanged, and it is being passed down to Nick's son. Nick shows us Route 66 books in a variety of languages given to him by their authors. The German books are autographed and annotated by German visitors, the Japanese in Kanji by Japanese Route 66 fans and so on. He tells me that Germans are particularly fascinated by Route 66 lore and are frequent diners. The food is very good, and the place looks much like it did in 1935. Prices are moderate, but not quite at the level of the original menu on the wall, when a steak was 85 cents. Unlike so many places along 66, business in booming. Here in Illinois, you have to look for historical parts of 66 and very little of it remains unchanged. Update 2015: The restaurant continues as usual, but the family has announced that it is for sale. Sad to see it leave family ownership.
Nick, the Proprietor:
MOUNT OLIVE
A Shell station in the same family from its opening in a1928 to closing in 1991 sits in 66, not preserved, though the sign needs some work. A small museum and T shirt store is inside..
Staunton, Ill, is where Rich Henry runs Henry's Rabbit Ranch. Rich is a Route 66 aficionado, and likes Rabbits. Outside is a mini- Cadillac Ranch display of VW Rabbits (For Europeans VW Golfs, but they do not fit the story as well:
In the yard are more VWs and other cars , and a very large rabbit...
Some Route 66 Memorabilia:
A Rabbit graveyard:
While inside the store,some live rabbits chew away contentedly:
As time goes by I will add more for Illinois, but we are off to Missouri in Part 3
Edited by RDMcG on Thursday 5th May 02:57
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