Lincoln Region
Route 66 Attractions in the Lincoln Region
1. Old Route 66 Alignment - Walk on original concrete pavement laid in 1922 for Illinois State Road 4, which later became Route 66.
2. Bunyon's Statue - Get your photo taken with this fiberglass giant "Muffler Man," an icon on Illinois Route 66 since 1965. He moved from Cicero to Atlanta in 2003.
3. Palm's Grill Cafe - Operating from 1934 to the late 1960s, the cafe was restored and reopened in 2009. Enjoy a home-cooked meal while discovering Atlanta's history.
4. Route 66 Park and Mural - Have a picnic in the park and celebrate Atlanta's location midway on Illinois Route 66. Listen to an Atlanta resident recall his experience at the Palm's Gill Cafe, which once served as a bus stop. Visit the Illinois Route 66 Wayside Exhibit inside the park.
5. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum - Schedule a tour through the only restored wooden grain elevator in Illinois.
6. Lincoln Heritage Museum at Lincoln College - Discover rare Abe Lincoln artifacts.
7. Lincoln Christening Site - Abe Lincoln christened the town in 1853 by squeezing the juice of a watermelon.
8. Logan County Courthouse - See grand architecture and art in a historic downtown shopping district.
9. Postville Courthouse - A replica of the building where Abraham Lincoln practived law from 1840-1848. Also visit the 1848 Mt. Pulaski Courthouse where Lincoln tried cases, 12 miles southeast near the intersection of Routes 121 and 54.
10 The Mill Restaurant - From 1929 to 1996, this was a popular stop along Route 66, famous for its schnitzel.
11. Lincoln City Hall - Look up on the roof of this 1895 brick building to see the famous storm spotter's telephone booth.
12. World's Largest Covered Wagon - Built in 2001, this wagon holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest covered wagon.
13. Ghost Bridge - Ruins of a concrete Route 66 bridge over Salt Creek, Now closed to the public.
1. Old Route 66 Alignment - Walk on original concrete pavement laid in 1922 for Illinois State Road 4, which later became Route 66.
2. Bunyon's Statue - Get your photo taken with this fiberglass giant "Muffler Man," an icon on Illinois Route 66 since 1965. He moved from Cicero to Atlanta in 2003.
3. Palm's Grill Cafe - Operating from 1934 to the late 1960s, the cafe was restored and reopened in 2009. Enjoy a home-cooked meal while discovering Atlanta's history.
4. Route 66 Park and Mural - Have a picnic in the park and celebrate Atlanta's location midway on Illinois Route 66. Listen to an Atlanta resident recall his experience at the Palm's Gill Cafe, which once served as a bus stop. Visit the Illinois Route 66 Wayside Exhibit inside the park.
5. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum - Schedule a tour through the only restored wooden grain elevator in Illinois.
6. Lincoln Heritage Museum at Lincoln College - Discover rare Abe Lincoln artifacts.
7. Lincoln Christening Site - Abe Lincoln christened the town in 1853 by squeezing the juice of a watermelon.
8. Logan County Courthouse - See grand architecture and art in a historic downtown shopping district.
9. Postville Courthouse - A replica of the building where Abraham Lincoln practived law from 1840-1848. Also visit the 1848 Mt. Pulaski Courthouse where Lincoln tried cases, 12 miles southeast near the intersection of Routes 121 and 54.
10 The Mill Restaurant - From 1929 to 1996, this was a popular stop along Route 66, famous for its schnitzel.
11. Lincoln City Hall - Look up on the roof of this 1895 brick building to see the famous storm spotter's telephone booth.
12. World's Largest Covered Wagon - Built in 2001, this wagon holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest covered wagon.
13. Ghost Bridge - Ruins of a concrete Route 66 bridge over Salt Creek, Now closed to the public.
Route 66 in Logan Country
Touring the Heart of Lincoln Country
Route 66 journeys through the heart of Abraham Lincoln country. The "hard road" connected rural farms was alive with motels, service stations, and diners serving cross-country travelers. Motorists became the lifeblood of towns that once depended on the railroad.
Route 66 Follows the Railroad
Construction of the Chicago and Alton (C&A) Railroad in the mid-1800s gave rise to small towns in central Illinois, such as Lincoln, Atlanta, and Elkhart. When Route 66 was established in 1926, it paralleled the tracks, following the most direct route between Chicago and St. Louis. Businesses shifted their focus from the tracks to the road.
Abe was Here!
Abraham Lincoln practiced law in Logan County from 1840 to 1847 while riding the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The city of Lincoln is the only town that was named fro Abe before he became president. He helped plat the original community. On August 27, 1853, residents named the new town in honor of Lincoln, who christened it with the juice of a watermelon.
Touring the Heart of Lincoln Country
Route 66 journeys through the heart of Abraham Lincoln country. The "hard road" connected rural farms was alive with motels, service stations, and diners serving cross-country travelers. Motorists became the lifeblood of towns that once depended on the railroad.
Route 66 Follows the Railroad
Construction of the Chicago and Alton (C&A) Railroad in the mid-1800s gave rise to small towns in central Illinois, such as Lincoln, Atlanta, and Elkhart. When Route 66 was established in 1926, it paralleled the tracks, following the most direct route between Chicago and St. Louis. Businesses shifted their focus from the tracks to the road.
Abe was Here!
Abraham Lincoln practiced law in Logan County from 1840 to 1847 while riding the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The city of Lincoln is the only town that was named fro Abe before he became president. He helped plat the original community. On August 27, 1853, residents named the new town in honor of Lincoln, who christened it with the juice of a watermelon.
