Route 66 Association of Illinois
Where The Road Begins
Hall of Fame member, inducted 2006
17 W Adams St. Chicago, IL 60603
The Berghoff is a rarity in America’s restaurant industry—100% family-owned and -operated for more than a century.
It began with an immigrant and a dream…
Read more here.
Phone: (312) 427-3170 Email: info@berghoff.com https://www.theberghoff.com/
Tues-Sat from 12:00 PM — Last Seating at 7:30 PM.
122 W Main St, Dwight, IL, United States
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright engineered the building of this bank in 1905. It is the only one of the three banks he designed still standing. It was expanded in 1970 and again in 1989. The general structure has not changed and the original woodwork has been kept intact.
Now the Peoples National Bank of Kewanee.
https://www.pnb-kewanee.com/Hall of Fame member, inducted 1998
Riverview Dr, St Louis, MO 63137, USA
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River between Chocteau Island on the east and St Louis, Missouri on the west was built in 1929 as part of the construction of Route 66. One of the bridge’s most unique features is the bend located about half-way through it’s one mile stretch. Today this Bridge is the world’s longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge. The Chain of rocks Bridge is open for foot and bicycle travel year-round and opens for vehicular traffic during special car events.
Hall of Fame member, inducted 1990
22353 W Frontage Rd, Raymond, IL 62560, United States
Located along Historic Route 66 in the panhandle of Montgomery County, Illinois, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Highways has watched over travelers along the Mother Road and Interstate 55 since the late 1950’s. While much of the pavement of Route 66 has been returned to the fields of rural Central Illinois, the Shrine remains as a testament to the weary traveler and Mother Mary’s guidance and protection over the highway and her travelers.
The Carrara Marble Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes from Italy was originally constructed as a high school project. It is inscribed “Mary, Loving Mother of Jesus, Protect us on the Highway”. Also along the road from this site is a trail of Burma Shave type signs of the Hail Mary.
Old Reservoir Road, Mount Olive, IL, United States
Mother Jones fought for coal miner’s rights and this monument honors the famous labor activist. The miners that were killed in the 1898 Virden mining riot are buried in this cemetery and Mother Jones is there where she wanted to be laid to rest with “her boys.”
http://www.motherjonesmuseum.org/museum/
27034 South Diagonal Road, Elwood, IL, United States
A touching stop for history buffs, the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery honors those who have served and fallen.
Phone: (815) 423-9958 https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/abrahamlincoln.aspMonday - Friday 8AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday - Sunday Closed
][/types][/wpv-conditional] https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/abrahamlincoln.asp
Monday - Friday 8AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday - Sunday Closed
Hall of Fame member, inducted 2008
800 South Morrison Avenue, Collinsville, IL, United States
This is one of Collinsville most unique attractions. The “bottle” served as a water tower for the catsup maker since it was built in 1949. This roadside attraction is Americana at its finest. You may have to wander off 66 a bit to find it, but it’s worth the effort. Local volunteers keep the catsup bottle looking its best.
http://www.catsupbottle.com
Curran Road, Auburn, IL, United States
This beautiful 1.4 mile long piece of restored hand-laid brick road is a segment of 66 done in 1931 and placed over the concrete roadbed.
Paving with brick was actually completed after the realignment of Route 66 to the eastern routing that runs through Litchfield. This section of road was briefly reverted to Illinois SBI 4 until the current alignment of Illinois 4 took place in 1932. It is well maintained and in fantastic condition, a worthy location for a photo opportunity.