The big news today is that we officially start the World Famous Route 66 in Chicago – heading west to Santa Monica, CA! Please be prepared for some kitsch and nostalgia from the 1920’s-1950’s!
The starting line in Chicago – Michigan Avenue and East Jackson Boulevard! Our first stop was Old Joliet Prison! The Blues Brothers! The greatest movie of all time, said only S!The ice cream shop was closed but Jake and Elwood Blues are still doing their thing! So good!The Blues Brothers’ car with bullhorn attached – needed to advertise their killer show at the Palace Hotel Ballroom! Orange whip anyone? Stay with us people!Our breakfast spot in Joliet! Very excited for all the neon signage that’s coming!In the olden days, these fiberglass giants were cutting edge advertising techniques for all things…most notably car parts like tires and mufflers. Hence, their nickname the muffler men. Now they are kitsch for more mundane things! This one celebrates the NASA Gemini missions and is known as Gemini Man!Hot Dog Man!Not technically a muffler man giant, but where else do we put a massive President Lincoln sitting in a wagon? The statue is known as Railsplitter!Route 66 officially dates to 1926 but didn’t take-off til later as a leisure activity for the emerging middle class and their cars. As such, gas stations and auto mechanics were the early rock stars! This gas station dates to 1932.The gas station was closed but we checked the prices! Don’t ask! Kitsch pays very well!Standard Oil? Rockefeller would be proud!These have obviously been refurbished, but the history just oozes out of these buildings! A popular Route 66 trivia question is what tire brand is advertised at this station! Miller Tires!No longer cutting edge gas pump technology!Last one…for today…we promise!Of the 3, this is the only that was open, but Sigrid didn’t need a “fill’er up!”We spent some time walking around Pontiac, IL!Pontiac is home to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame!More impressive than the HOF museum was this mural, which maps the entire Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica and names nearly every town along the way!E finally found a car her size! Not enough painted flowers and could you show her something in a purple? And perhaps side doors?Our awesome first day on Route 66 ended in the home town of President Lincoln! This is the site of the only home that he and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, owned during their marriage! They left the home in 1861 when he become President-Elect, but he never returned obviously!We’re not sure, but we suspect the aluminum siding was added by a later owner! What you thought the kitsch wasn’t going to rub off?
We met in San Francisco in December 2013 and were married on Valentine's Day 2016. After two years of marriage, we've decided to trade in corporate life for a global travel adventure and our continued commitment to making a positive difference in the world. Follow our adventure.
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2 thoughts on “Day 16 – Deerfield, IL – Springfield, IL”
Great pictures and some great big statues. A friend in Rotary went back to Chicago and bought a new Corvet. He and his wife traveled the entire Route 66 to Santa Monica and they share stories and pictures at a club meeting. Incredible that the history of the route has been maintained and one can actually still drive it and see some unique and memorable sights. They said the latter routes thru Arizona were just dirt roads but the route continued! Enjoy your adventures.
Wearehere 
Great pictures and some great big statues. A friend in Rotary went back to Chicago and bought a new Corvet. He and his wife traveled the entire Route 66 to Santa Monica and they share stories and pictures at a club meeting. Incredible that the history of the route has been maintained and one can actually still drive it and see some unique and memorable sights. They said the latter routes thru Arizona were just dirt roads but the route continued! Enjoy your adventures.
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Love the pics, and regarding the history of my industry, the National Cleaners Association was founded in Jolliet!
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