Facts about Illinois' most famous highway
It's been nearly 100 years since Route 66 was built as the main thoroughfare between Chicago and California. While the original roadway is no longer in service, traveling along the historic route makes for the quintessential American road trip. Here are some things you might not know about the road's path through Central Illinois:
Route 66
BY THE NUMBERS
By Robyn Gautschy Skaggs
f11photo // Shutterstock
301
CHICAGO
Miles of Route 66 in Illinois. In total, the road spans 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California.
Year Route 66 finished construction. By 1985, most of it had been replaced by newer interstates, and Route 66 was removed from the United States Highway System.
PONTIAC
TOWANDA
BLOOMINGTON
ATLANTA
LINCOLN
SPRINGFIELD
1926
Year Illinois Historic Route 66 was designated as a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
2005
Bill H.R. 3600 advanced to the U.S. House in November. If passed, it would create the Route 66 National Historic Trail and give the National Park Service authority to help communities preserve the roadway.
3600
ST. LOUIS
Sources: enjoyillinois.com, roadsideamerica.com, visitpontiac.org, visitbn.org, route66fest.com, Pantagraph archives, illinoisroute66.org, Stacker
The Route 66 logo fills the wall at the rear of the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac. -- Associated Press photo
The Chain of Rocks Bridge, constructed in 1929, sits 60 feet above the Mississippi River and links Madison, Illinois with St. Louis.
-- Carol M. Highsmith photo, Library of Congress
1966
The year of Bob Waldmire’s renovated school bus — the “Road Yacht” — on display at the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac. Waldmire was known as a Route 66 artist and preservationist, and visitors can tour his bus from May through October.
visitpontiac.org photo
18
Width, in feet, of Dead Man’s Curve in Towanda. The sharp turn and narrow roadway here led to many traffic crashes for travelers. Also in Towanda is the Geographical Journey Parkway, a walking tour with kiosks for each state along Route 66.
Lenore Sobota, The Pantagraph
2026
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026, the Mid-Illinois Realtors Association dedicated a future parklet on Main and Jefferson streets in downtown Bloomington.
David Proeber, The Pantagraph
19
Height, in feet, of the Paul “Bunyon” Hotdog Statue in Atlanta. In 2016, volunteers from the Illinois Route 66 Preservation Committee helped repaint the 19-foot-tall fiberglass giant.
Steve Smedley, The Pantagraph
24
Height, in feet, of the Railsplitter Covered Wagon in Lincoln. A tribute to Abraham Lincoln, the wagon has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest covered wagon in the world.
Kevin Barlow, The Pantagraph
1939
Year John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath” dubbed Route 66 as “The Mother Road.” Springfield now hosts a Route 66 Mother Road Festival each September.
route66fest.com photo
Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood LaHood talks about Route 66 legislation
Interior height, in feet, of rotunda in the center of the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington. The former courthouse now houses the Cruising’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center.
100
Year that Carl Garbe created Carl's Ice Cream, which has grown to include locations in Bloomington and Normal.
1980
Year that Isaac Funk chose the location for a well, setting in motion what would eventually become Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup.
1824
Year that Carl Garbe created Carl's Ice Cream, which has grown to include locations in Bloomington and Normal.
1980
Year that Isaac Funk chose the location for a well, setting in motion what would eventually become Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup.
1824