Route 66 defined a nation, a generation, and an era. As it threaded its way across eight states, it left its eternal mark on our nation’s physical, historical and cultural landscape. No other road symbolizes optimism, freedom and the American Dream quite like Route 66.

It began with an Oklahoma businessman and entrepreneur, Cyrus Avery, who envisioned a road stretching diagonally across the country between Lake Michigan and the Pacific Ocean. The diagonal course made it possible to connect hundreds of rural towns throughout the country and provide small communities access to a national highway system. The road was officially named Route 66 in 1926, but it was Avery who proclaimed it the “Main Street of America.”

Many “main streets” in Illinois were already connected by the Pontiac Trail, the original automobile route between Chicago and St. Louis. In 1920, State Bond Issue 4 enabled the construction of a new “hard road” to connect the two cities in a more direct fashion – the first in a series of efforts to make highway travel more efficient. Already paved in concrete by 1926, the Illinois stretch of US 66 was the first to claim it was “slab all the way.”

Eventually amenities such as motor courts, souvenir shops and roadside attractions sprang up to meet the growing demands of travelers.  Illinois had many unique businesses. From the Wishing Well Motel in Countryside to the Chain of Rocks Motel in Granite City; from the Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell to the Ariston Café in Litchfield; from the Standard Oil Station in Odell to the Soulsby Station in Mt. Olive, the road was lined with the mom-and-pop shops eager to serve Route 66 travelers.

Many of these familiar landmarks became regular stops, not just for the goods and services they provided, but for the warmth and hospitality served on the side. Route 66 became a linear community that spanned more than 2400 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles.

Ultimately, the desire for faster, safer and more efficient roadways led to the construction of a 4-lane Route 66 following World War II. In addition to the extra lanes, the road was also realigned to bypass the small towns that had grown accustomed to heavy traffic and the commerce that came with it.

By 1977, Interstate 55 had completely replaced Route 66 in Illinois and in 1984 the last remaining section of US 66 in Arizona was bypassed by Interstate 40. Route 66 was officially decommissioned by the federal government in 1985.

Fortunately, the legacy of Route 66 has survived. Today, travelers of the historic highway in Illinois can cruise nearly 400 miles of road, including some of the original 1926 concrete segments. Historically significant structures have been preserved to help bring the Route 66 experience to life and many authentic businesses welcome the opportunity to serve today’s Route 66 traveler.

Whether you’re a seasoned roadie or a first-time visitor, there’s plenty to experience, so…

We’ll see you on Route 66!