Illinois Route 66

Illinois Historic
Route 66
Interpretive Master Plan
Executive Summary
August, 2008

Illinois Historic
Route 66
Interpretive Master Plan
Executive Summary
August, 2008
Submitted to:
Route 66 Heritage Project, Inc.
700 East Adams Street
Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: (217) 525-7980
E-mail: info@illinoisroute66.org
Web: http://illinoisroute66.org
Prepared by:
Schmeeckle Reserve Interpreters
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: (715) 346-4992
E-mail: schmeeckle@uwsp.edu
Ron Zimmerman, Michael Gross, and Jim Buchholz
Schmeeckle Reserve
I n t e r p r e t e r s

Executive Summary
Route 66:
An American Icon
Route 66 is the most famous road in America.
Generations of travelers have romanticized
this highway as a symbol of unlimited mobility
and freedom of the road. Its iconic status is enhanced
by the unprecedented volume of music, books, films,
and other art forms that depict it as the essence of
America’s highway culture.
It was born in 1926 as part of the new numbered
highway network and quickly grew to be the
preferred road west for a nation on the move. U.S.
Highway 66 was not as old or as long as some other
transcontinental routes like the Yellowstone or the
Lincoln Highway but it quickly gained fame as the
shortest, year-round route between the Midwest and
the coast as it passed through the fabled landscape
of the American Southwest. The construction of this
thin, ribbon of road helped to transform the American
West from an isolated frontier to an economically
vital region of the country and made it accessible to
anyone with a car.
March, 2007.
In its lifetime this celebrated road witnessed a
continuum of highway and transportation evolution
from Ford Model Ts plodding through rutted dirt
to the rise of the monolithic American Interstate
Highway System. Route 66 was the most well known
road in a national network of public highways which
succeeded in uniting a huge, dispersed nation into a
cohesive whole.
During its heyday, Route 66 mirrored the mood of
the nation. During the Great Depression, it became
the Road of Flight for farm families escaping the
Dust Bowl. In his classic novel, The Grapes of Wrath,
John Steinbeck christened it the Mother Road and
it has carried that moniker ever since. Even this
monumental exodus was but a single surge in the
mass movement of humans in the nation’s history.
Another was the post-World War II movement of ex
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division,
FSA-OWI Collection [fsa 8a26684]
During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, thousands of
“Okies” fled to California on Route 66 in search of
a better life.
1

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Idiosyncratic gas stations, shops, and diners, like the
first Steak ‘n Shake located in Bloomington, Illinois,
were born along Route 66 to serve travelers.
Accident on Route 66, 1948.
Courtesy of Windy City Road Warrior, www.windycityroadwarrior.com
Courtesy of Steak ‘n Shake
Courtesy of Geographical Journey, Towanda, Illinois
Sign marking the eastern terminus
of Route 66 in Grant Park, Chicago.
GIs and their families to join the booming California
job market. In the post war recovery years, optimism
pervaded the national attitude. Times were good
and people traveled. American families took two
week vacations to drive 66 and see the wonders of
the West and the new California scene. In the 1960s,
the “Hippie” counterculture lured thousands of the
nation’s disenchanted youth west on 66, hitchhiking
or packed into microbuses. The old highway is a road
of dreams.
Part of the charm of Route 66 is its idiosyncratic
personality. Like a giant carnival Midway, this
corridor of neon signs and gaudy roadside attractions
was embraced by the traveling public as an exciting
diversion from ordinary life. A trip on Route 66
promised an exhilarating pilgrimage where one
might discover the unknown and experience the
unusual. Route 66 is synonymous with fun and
adventure.
What made Route 66 an intimate adventure also
made it dangerous. “Bloody 66” was totally accessible.
It twisted through congested cities, crossed railroads
on grade, and was riddled with blind corners
and hazardous cross traffic. Every incremental
improvement that was made to safely accommodate
the increasing traffic brought the engineering closer
to the Interstate Highway solution that would
succeed the old road.
Route 66 achieved a mythic status in American
culture that could not be replaced by a safer but
soulless super highway system. Mythical 66 refused
to die. Illinois was the first state to hard surface the
highway and the first to replace it with Interstate. It
was where Route 66 began and finally, where it was
officially ended.
Route 66, stripped of its signs and removed from
highway maps, appeared destined to become a
forgotten footnote in history. Almost 2,500 miles
of pavement, the great neon corridor, was faded,
less traveled, and in places, harder to find but still
there and waiting to be rediscovered. By 1984, when
2

Executive Summary
Interstate 40 bypassed the last stretch of Route 66
in Arizona, a movement was already developing to
resurrect the old road. It might not be the corridor
west that it once was, but it could still be a road
where travelers could experience the landscape and
a time before franchises and freeways swallowed up
the old route. The scale of the road corridor and its
interface with the communities it connects allows
travelers to experience the local sense of place in
ways that super highways cannot achieve.
Courtesy of Digital Route 66, www.digitalroute66.com
Preserve, Promote, Enjoy
On March 5, 1989, the Route 66 Association of Illinois
was formed with the purpose to “preserve, promote
and enjoy the past and present of U.S. Highway 66.”
Since their establishment, this group has developed
historic route markers, traveler’s guides, museums,
and signs to highlight attractions. Many tangible
relics of the old road have been saved as a result of
their efforts.
In the late 1990s, Illinois Route 66 was designated a
“state heritage tourism project.” Illinois Route 66
Heritage Project, Inc. was developed to manage
the initiative. This non-profit, 501(c)3 organization
received a grant from the State of Illinois,
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,
Bureau of Tourism to develop a Corridor
Management Plan. This was a requirement for
designation as a
National Scenic
Byway by the U.S.
Department of
Transportation.
TM
On September 22,
2005, Illinois
Historic Route 66
was designated a
National Scenic
Byway.
Formed in 1989, the Route 66 Association of Illinois
has preserved and restored numerous resources
along the highway. Art’s Motel and Restaurant sign
was restored in spring of 2007.
Illinois Historic Route 66 was designated a National Scenic Byway in 2005.
3

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Mission and Vision of
Illinois Route 66
Mission Statement
The mission of the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project/
Historic Route 66 in Illinois America’s Byway is to
enhance and promote economic opportunities for
each Illinois Route 66 community by preserving
Illinois Route 66 Heritage and by sustaining and
increasing heritage and cultural tourism through
the development and marketing of a cohesive Illinois
Route 66 product.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project/
Historic Route 66 in Illinois America’s Byway is to
be the national leader in developing Route 66 as the
premier Byway tourist destination in the United
States.
Purpose of the
Interpretive Plan
A Federal Highway Administration grant was
awarded to the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project in
November, 2006 to develop an Interpretive Master
Plan.
An interpretive master plan is a road map for telling
the diverse stories of Route 66 in a meaningful way.
“The purpose of the Historic Route 66 in
Illinois Interpretive Master Plan is to identify
the significant stories of the historic corridor
in Illinois and to outline specific strategies to
tell these stories to visitors and residents in an
effective manner.”
4

Executive Summary
Goals of the
Interpretive Plan
Tell a cohesive and comprehensive story
of the Illinois Historic Route 66 Scenic
Byway Corridor.
►► Identify and document those tangible
resources that connect Illinois Historic
Route 66 travelers to the stories and
meanings associated with this historic
road.
►► Develop themes that unify and organize
these stories and tangible resources.
►► Recommend specific interpretive media
most appropriate for specific tangible
resources (e.g. wayside exhibits and
kiosks).
►► Recommend comprehensive media
where no tangible resources exist (e.g.
traveling exhibits, visitor centers, roadtrip
packages).
►► Recommend resources and media for
audiences with specific interests related
to the byway.
►► Provide parameters and guidelines for
future media development.
Interviewing Bill Shea (on left), Springfield. March, 2007.
Coordinate interpretive development
efforts of stakeholders and communities
along the byway
►► Serve as a catalyst for community
involvement, economic development,
and for education, conservation and
preservation efforts along the corridor.
►► Provide quality experiences for tourists
that will extend the length of time that
visitors stay in the byway communities,
thereby increasing tourism revenues.
►► Provide recommendations on how to
make the Historic Illinois Route 66
a recognizable entity and improve
wayfinding though unified graphics,
structures and other means.
5

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Themes and Messages
Themes are the important ideas that organize
the messages that we wish to communicate
about Illinois Route 66. They create a
framework for planning and help place resources and
events into meaningful contexts for visitors. All of the
messages we tell on interpretive signage, brochures,
audio CDs, exhibits, and other types of media should
fit under the following themes.
General Route 66 Theme:
The primary interpretive theme expresses the
significance of the entire highway from Illinois to
California.
Route 66, the great “Mother Road” from Chicago to Los
Angeles, is an American icon, symbolizing romance,
freedom of the road, individuality, and opportunities for
small businesses and tourist stops.
Illinois Route 66 Theme:
The more specific Illinois Route 66 primary theme
expresses the importance of the route in Illinois.
The beginning of the “Mother Road,” Illinois Route 66
was a vital economic artery between Chicago and St.
Louis that still connects travelers to prairie farms and
small Midwest towns.
6

Executive Summary
Sub-theme #1
Route 66 symbolizes the spirit and freedom of
America and the pursuit of the American dream.
Small towns in Illinois represent the “real America” to many
travelers. Hawes Grain Elevator in Atlanta.
Sub-theme #2
Route 66 has an idiosyncratic personality
that is expressed in commercial and folk
art and is celebrated in other art forms.
Route 66 was known as the “neon corridor” from the 1930s to the
1960s. The Ariston Cafe in Litchfi eld still glows along the highway.
Courtesy of Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation
Sub-theme #3
Route 66 evolved dramatically in its 50 years of
fame, serving as a prototype for advancements
in road engineering and safety, which lead to its
replacement by the interstate highway system.
Route 66 was known as “Bloody 66” due to the large number
of accidents, which kept the Illinois State Police busy.
Sub-theme #4
Geography shaped development along
the Illinois corridor from Lake Michigan
to the confluence of the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers.
The Henry Eilers Shoal Creek Nature Preserve, owned by the City of
Litchfi eld, protects 250 acres of savanna/woodland.
7

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Sub-theme #5
Illinois Route 66 is uniquely defined by its vast
prairie/farm landscape, which is dotted with
small towns and marked by grain elevators and
historic, public squares.
Grain elevators, like these near Elkhart, still dominate the landscape of rural
Illinois communities along Historic Route 66.
Sub-theme #6
Coal underlying Illinois influenced the development
of many communities along Route 66, fueled the
nation’s industry, and shaped national policy
toward the Labor Movement.
The Mother Jones Memorial in Mt. Olive commemorates the struggles
of miners and the fi ght to reform labor policy in the country.
Sub-theme #7
Small towns and businesses on Route 66
relied and continue to rely on automobile
traffic for their social and economic
wellbeing.
Restored 1932 Standard Oil gas station in Odell that served
travelers until 1975.
Sub-theme #8
As a transportation hub of the
nation, Chicago was the logical
starting point of Route 66.
The skyline of Chicago punctured by skyscrapers is an
exciting start to the Route 66 experience and a contrast to
the rural cities along the highway.
8

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Historic Illinois Route 66: Community Overview Map
Chicago Region
►Chicago
Chicagoland Region
►Cicero
►Berwyn
►Riverside
►Stickney
►Lyons
►McCook
►Hodgkins
►Countryside
►Indian Head Park
►Willowbrook
►Burr Ridge
►Darien
►Woodridge
►Bolingbrook
1926-1977 Route
Pontiac Region
►Braidwood
►Godley
►Braceville
►Gardner
►Dwight
►Odell
►Cayuga
►Pontiac
►Ocoya
►Chenoa
Joliet Region
►Romeoville
►Lockport
►Crest Hill
►Joliet
►Preston Heights
►Elwood
►Wilmington
1926-1939 Route
1940-1966 Alt. Route
►Plainfield*
►Shorewood*
►Channahon*
1926-1977 Route
* 1940-1977 Route
Chicagoland Region
Joliet Region
Pontiac
Region
Chicago Region
Pontiac
Odell
Cayuga
Chicago
Berwyn
Riverside Cicero
McCook
Stickney
Indian Head Park
Lyons
Hodgkins
Willowbrook
Countryside
Darien
Burr Ridge
Bolingbrook Woodridge
Plainfi eld
Shorewood
Channahon
Dwight
Romeoville
Lockport
Crest Hill
Elwood
Wilmington
Braidwood
Godley
Braceville
Gardner
Joliet
Preston Heights
Ocoya
Bloomington-Normal
Region
►Lexington
►Towanda
►Normal
►Bloomington
►Shirley
►Funks Grove
1926-1977 Route
Bloomington-
Normal Region
Lincoln
Broadwell
Elkhart
Atlanta
Lawndale
McLean
Shirley
Funks Grove
Towanda
Normal
Chenoa
Lexington
Bloomington
Lincoln
Region
Map graphics copyright of Google Maps
Lincoln Region
►McLean
►Atlanta
►Lawndale
►Lincoln
►Broadwell
►Elkhart
1926-1977 Route
Carlinville
Region
St. Louis
Granite City
Madison
Venice
Brooklyn
Mitchell
East St. Louis
Carlinville
Pontoon
Beach
Fairmont City
Chatham
Auburn
Thayer
Virden
Girard
Nilwood
East Gillespie
Gillespie
Mt. Clare
Sawyerville
Staunton
Maryville
Collinsville
Troy
Jerome
Benld
Hamel
Edwardsville
Glen Carbon
Mt. Olive
Williamson
Livingston
Williamsville
Sherman
Glenarm
Divernon
Springfi eld
Southern View
Farmerville
Waggoner
Litchfi eld
Litchfi eld
Region
East St. Louis
Region
Springfi eld
Region
Springfield Region
►Williamsville
►Sherman
►Springfield
►Southern View
►Glenarm
Carlinville Region
►Thayer*
►Virden*
►Girard*
►Nilwood*
►Carlinville*
►East Gillespie*
►Gillespie*
►Mt. Clare*
►Benld*
►Sawyerville*
* 1926-1930 Route
1930-1977 Route
►Divernon
►Jerome*
►Chatham*
►Auburn*
* 1926-1930 Route
Litchfield Region
►Farmerville
►Waggoner
►Litchfield
►Mt. Olive
►Staunton*
►Williamson**
►Livingston**
1930-1977 Route
*1926-1940 Route
**1940-1977 Route
East St. Louis Region
►Hamel
►Edwardsville
►Glen Carbon
►Pontoon Beach
►Mitchell
►Troy*
►Maryville*
►Collinsville*
►Fairmont City*
►East St. Louis*
►Venice**
►Brooklyn**
** 1926-1936 Route
►Granite City
* 1957-1977 Route
►Madison
1926-1956 Route

Executive Summary
Resources of the Road
A
comprehensive inventory of community
interpretive resources was conducted in the 87
communities identified as Route 66 Heritage
Communities. The inventory lists 311 interpretive
resources which have been classified in the following
categories:
Primary Resources:
Directly relate to Route 66 and its history
Historic road infrastructure:
Pavement, curbing, bridges, mile
markers, signs, rest areas
Historic services facilities and
signs: Motels, restaurants, gas
stations, garages, bars, police stations,
businesses, advertising signs
Historic roadside attractions and
signs: Attractions (shrines, driveins,
fiberglass giants) and signs built
specifically for Route 66 travelers
Modern services that interpret
or are themed to Route 66: Motels,
restaurants, rest areas themed to
Route 66 or that have era kitsch.
Modern attractions that interpret
or are themed to Route 66:
Entertainment, festivals, museums,
halls of fame, murals, antique malls
Secondary Resources:
Do not directly relate to Route 66, but
are located along or near the byway
Attraction relates to
community’s history: historic
sites, museums, buildings,
cemeteries, artwork, murals
Attraction relates to
transportation: cars, trains, flight,
racetracks, I&M Canal
Attraction relates to agriculture
or mining: farms, grain elevators,
monuments, quarries
Attraction relates to landscape
or natural history: prairies,
natural areas, lakes, gardens, nature
centers, bike trails, parks, zoos
Other attractions: Major
museums, national historic sites and
cemeteries, and others that do not fit
above categories
Core Route 66 Experience: Primary resources with this additional icon are “must see”
attractions for travelers on Illinois Historic Route 66. These resources are the best direct
connections to the scenic byway and help tell a holistic story.
9

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Telling the Stories of
Route 66
The planning team talks with Richard Henry at
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton. Real people
talking to travelers about their experiences on Route
66 is the best form of interpretation. April, 2007
The Illinois Route 66 corridor contains multiple
access points and hundreds of attractions
spaced at irregular intervals along its 421
miles. A wide range of travelers are drawn to
the road with different interests and needs. A
comprehensive interpretive media package must
include diverse, accessible delivery techniques to
reach the widest audience. It should be integrated
into a holistic media package that includes
publications, websites, attraction waysides and
experience hubs, and visitor center, all of which
have unified graphics and direct visitors to other
opportunities. Providing a strong visual identity and
improving wayfinding are fundamental to helping
visitors have a quality experience. Improving
wayfinding and increasing visitor identification
were identified in the Illinois Route 66 community
meetings as the most important needs for
“revitalizing Route 66”.
Welcome to
SPRINGFIELD
A Route 66 Heritage Community
Concept Route 66 Heritage Community sign
LINCOLN
A Route 66 Heritage Community
Create a Strong
Visual Identity
Route 66 Heritage Community signs
Each byway community should be identified with a
standardized “Illinois Route 66 Heritage Community”
welcome sign. The sign should represent the
idiosyncratic nature of the route (perhaps a 1950s
era shape and font) and display the highway shield
brand.
Communities may consider investing in individualized neon signs
that help tell their story. For example, the city of Lincoln might have
an animated Abe squeezing a watermelon. Drops of juice would fall
to the bottom of the sign and light up the pink border.
10

Executive Summary
Thematic Route 66 streetscapes
A “streetscape” represents all of the elements
that make up the overall appearance of the byway
corridor. Each byway community should consider
ways of enhancing their corridors that connect
travelers to Route 66.
Historic community murals
Murals are a cost effective method for attracting
attention and communicating with travelers since
their size is proportional to the architectural
environment of cities and are easily viewed from
vehicles. Most small towns have available “rough”
walls that can be visually improved with painted
murals.
Atlanta’s streetscape of historic buildings, murals,
a restored neon sign, and Bunyon’s Giant immerse
travelers in the Route 66 ambience.
Courtesy of IvoShandor, en.wikipedia.org, September, 2007
Interpretive statues
Thematic statues tell the story of the road in a way
that is unique and unexpected by visitors. They serve
as a fun photo opportunity and add diversity to the
traveler’s experience package.
Visitor centers and experience hubs
A series of visitor centers and experience hubs
developed at strategic points along the byway will
help to tell a comprehensive story of the highway.
Pontiac’s Route 66 mural on the Old City Hall and
Fire Station.
Disperse interpretation along the corridor
Media should be placed where people already
gather or travel, at sites with significant stories and
structures. This ensures that all communities along
the byway will eventually have some interpretive
recognition, resulting in significant exposure and
involvement.
Conceptual singer and musician statues adjacent to
the Coliseum Ball Room in Benld.
11

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Conceptual
Historic Route 66
Access Sign that
would be installed
at Interstate
exits and
major highway
intersections that
connect to the
byway.
Attractions
Shea’s Gas Station
Cozy Dog Drive In
Curve Inn
Route 66 Visitor
Center, Bel-Aire
Route 66 Kicks
Entertainment
HISTORIC
ROUTE
ACCESS
Standardized
directional
signs to primary
attractions. The
design replicates
the colors and
Route 66 shield
of the IDOT
highway signs,
which travelers
are used to
watching for.
Improve Wayfinding
Wayfinding, a traveler’s ability to follow the byway
and find destinations, is the foundation of a positive
visitor experience.
►► Replace all weathered Route 66 markers and
directional signs with the standard “Historic
Illinois Route 66” signs
►► Develop a plan to supplement existing signs on
the entire route
►► Install “Historic Route 66 Access” signs before
I-55 exits and major highway intersections
►► Create standardized directional signs to primary
attractions
►► Paint the Route 66 shield on road pavement
►► Identify each “Route 66 Heritage Community”
with a unique sign
►► Develop additional community murals
►► Plan easily recognizable experience hubs at
prominent locations
►► Develop a comprehensive website and place
website access information on all media
►► Develop a new Travel Guide that includes
community maps to attractions
►► Enhance recognition with unified design
standards for all media
A Route 66 shield painted on the street marks an
alignment through Chenoa.
12

Chapter 5–Interpretive Media and Facilities
Unified Design Standards
To enhance recognition and provide a holistic
interpretive experience for travelers, all media
should be visually unified.
Color Families
CMYK=
63,10,0,38
CMYK=
63,10,0,9
CMYK=
46,0,2,18
CMYK=
15,0,0,0
CMYK=
12,96,100,25
CMYK=
0,74,75,1
CMYK=
8,66,69,17
CMYK=
0,14,22,0
A gradation of blue colors provides a rich palette of
choices for backgrounds, tint boxes, borders, and text.
A gradation of red colors provides contrast and
highlights for important elements.
Typography
Expo Font
Brody Font
Smilage Font
Font Diner Loungy
Gill Sans Extra Bold
Futura Extra Black
Many idiosyncratic font styles are available that
reflect the 1950s era, and may be ideal for
connecting travelers with the stories of Route 66.
Headline
Main heading
Main text
Sub-text heading
Sub-text
Captions
Photo credits
Successful interpretive media follows the “3-30-3
rule,” a hierarchy of text sizes that emphasizes the
importance of different sections.
Unifying Elements
TM
123
DETOUR
PASSPORT
66
Logos are unifying symbols that increase recognition
for organizations.
Unifying symbols help to integrate media and speak
a universal language to Route 66 audiences.
13

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Wayside Exhibits
Outdoor interpretive panels are one of the most
effective forms of media for a byway. They are
always available, answer specific questions
about a resource, and are low-tech, user-friendly
communication tools easily accessed by visitors.
Wayside exhibits are proposed for 37 communities.
Audio messages with first person accounts and
sound effects are proposed for the site of the Pig
Hip Restaurant in Broadwell and other former
restaurants, Coliseum Ballroom in Benld, and places
where engineering, policing, and road safety are
interpreted.
Conceptual sketch of an Illinois Route 66 wayside
exhibit. Interpretive panels are on duty 24 hours a
day and directly interpret tangible resources that can
be seen or experienced.
Design Standards for Wayside Exhibits
Shape:
The shape of the panel reflects the streamline design
of the 1950s with a rounded top and an angled
bottom that terminates in a point.
Frame and Supports:
The frame and supports will feature a shiny chromelike
finish, etched “racing stripes,” prominent Route
66 shield logos, and a tactile chevron. The design is
inspired by streamlined cars of the Route 66 era.
Colors:
For the wayside exhibit standards, a series of blue
tinted colors worked well to tie the different elements
of the panel together.
Typography:
The text is organized in a visual hierarchy that
follows the “3-30-3 rule;” the most important
messages are the largest.
The frame and supports of Route 66 wayside
exhibits reflect the popular era of the Mother Road
and assist in telling the stories.
Unifying Elements:
Integration with other media, like a numbered
audio tour and passport stamp, is important. A
sidebar with a “detour sign” encourages exploration
activities.
14

Chapter 5–Interpretive Media and Facilities
Recommended Design
Standards for Illinois Route 66
Wayside Exhibits
Shape
Color
Typography
Unifying Elements
Curved top with “racing
stripes” represents the
streamlined design of the 1950s
Logos and
website URL in
header bar
Headline:
Expo, 100 pts
White Text
Dark Blue
CMYK=63,10,0,38
Logo etched
in the frame
White Text
Main Heading:
Expo, 60 pts
Detour sign and
side bar invite
exploratory
activities
Headphones
symbol for
the audio tour
23"
Focal Point
Graphic
Light Blue Gradient
CMYK=46,0,2,18 to
CMYK=15,0,0,0
Black Text
Captions:
Gill Sans, italic,
18 pts
Black Text
Sub-Text:
Gill Sans, regular,
24 pts
Main Text:
Gill Sans, regular,
36 pts
Chevron and pointed
bottom represent 1950s
car design
Black Text
Passport
Station
Bright Blue
CMYK=63,10,0,9
31.5"
15

TM
Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Experience Hubs
A collection of interpretive panels on thematic
Route 66 supports will serve as a gateway and a
hub of Route 66 information and experiences in a
community. They will be designed with enough size
and mass to attract attention even in cluttered urban
settings.
The Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway in Utah
has invested in highly visible experience hubs that
showcase the stories of the canyon and are unifi ed
throughout the byway.
Experience hubs are proposed for communities that
represent major regions along the byway, including
Chicago, Joliet, Wilmington, Dwight, Funks Grove,
Lincoln, Bloomington/Normal, Springfield, Pontiac,
Carlinville, Litchfield, Edwardsville, and the Chain of
Rocks Bridge.
Lincoln
Lincoln
Lincoln, Illinois
123
Exploring Lincoln
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fise sd lasjf lsd fjsailij fs. a sdl ais asdfl isf s. Sfs sd jflsai
fskda sd asdkjf sklfda.
Wsdfjl skd sk jflsi lskdjf lasj lskd sjdfi as
d ijf a ci sidi fise sd lasjf lsd fjsailij fs. A
sdl ais asdfl isf s. Sfs sd jflsai fskda sd
asdkjf sklfda. Ws fas fsia fasol j faslkdf .
Wsdfjl skd sk jflsi lskdjf
lasj lskd sjdfi as d ijf a ci
sidi fise sd lasjf lsd fjsailij
fs rewa faksj fiasf sialfsd.
Lincoln and a Watermelon
Wsdfjl skd sk
jflsi lskdjf lasj
lskd sjdfi as d ijf
a ci sidi fise sd
lasjf lsd fjsailij fs.
a sdl ais asdfl isf
s. Sfs sd jflsai
fskda sd asdkjf
sklfda.
Route 66 in Lincoln
Wsdfjl skd sk jflsi lskdjf lasj lskd sjdfi as
d ijf a ci sidi fise sd lasjf lsd fjsailij fs. A
sdl ais asdfl isf s. Sfs sd jflsai fskda sd
asdkjf sklfda. Lals fae asdf aksdf alksf.
Wsdfjl skd sk jflsi lskdjf lasj lskd sjdfi as d ijf
a ci sidi fise sd lasjf lsd fjsailij fs. a sdl ais
asdfl isf s. Sfs sd jflsai fskda sd asdkjf sklfda.
The Mill Restaurant
Ghost Bridge
Wsdfjl skd sk
jflsi lskdjf lasj
lskd sjdfi as d ijf a
ci sidi fise sd lasjf l
sd fjsailij fs. a sdl ais
asdfl isf s. Sfs sd
jflsai fskda sd
asdkjf sklfda.
Wsdfjl skd
sk jflsi lskdjf
lasj lskd sjdfi
as d ijf a ci sidi
fise sd lasjf lsd f
jsailij fs. a sdl ais
asdfl isf s. Sfs sd
jflsai fskda sd asd
kjf sklfda.
Wsdfjl skd
sk jflsi lskdjf
lasj lskd sjdfi
as d ijf a ci sidi
fise sd lasjf lsd f
jsailij fs. a sdl ais
asdfl isf s. Sfs sd
jflsai fskda sd asd
kjf sklfda.
Wsdfjl skd sk jflsi
lskdjf lasj lskd
sjdfi as d ijf a ci
sidi fise sd lasjf lsd
fjsailij fs. A sdl ais
asdfl isf s. Sfs sd
Wsdfjl skd sk jflsi lskdjf lasj lskd sjdfi as
jflsai fskda sd
d ijf a ci sidi fise sd lasjf lsd fjsailij fs. A
asdkjf sklfda. Lals
sdl ais asdfl isf s. Sfs sd jflsai fskda sd
fae asdf aksdf
asdkjf sklfda. Lals fae asdf aksdf alksf.
alksf.
The Tropics Restaurant
One side of each Experience Hub should display a
large map of the community with signifi cant tourist
attractions along Route 66 alignments.
The other side of the Hub will feature interpretive
messages about Route 66 and the community’s
history.
16

Chapter 5–Interpretive Media and Facilities
Interpretive Visitor
Facilities
A chain of visitor facilities (welcome centers, visitor
centers, museums, parks, and rest areas) already
exist to provide interpretive media and visitor
services for tourists on Route 66.
Additional facilities or media recommended in this
plan include:
►► Chicago Architecture Foundation—the
Beginning of the Mother Road
►► Joliet History Museum—the Route 66
Experience
►► Dwight: Ambler-Becker Gas Station Visitor
Center
►► Normal: Sprague Super Service
►► Atlanta: Palm’s Grill and Café
►► Lincoln: The Mill Restaurant
►► Springfield: Bel-Aire Manor Motel: Illinois Route
66 Discovery Center (see next section)
►► Mitchell: Chain of Rocks Toll Booth Visitor
Center: Western Gateway to Illinois Route 66
(alternative visitor center at Edwardsville)
Visitors enjoy the “Route 66 Experience” in the Joliet
Area Historical Museum. Interpretive visitor facilities
provide more in-depth information about the road
through artifacts and exhibits, and allow visitors to
talk to staff knowledgeable about the byway.
The Mill site in Lincoln could be a possible refuge
for displaying signs and artifacts from old Route 66
restaurants and diners.
February, 2008
Courtesy of Jerry Keyser (as shown in Route 66 Remembered by Michael Karl Witzel,2003)
Sprague Super Service can serve as an eye-catching
gateway to the Normal/Bloomington region. The
owner is restoring the station to its 1931 condition.
A rebuilt tollbooth adjacent to the Chain of Rocks
Bridge would serve as a thematic western gateway
to Route 66 in Illinois.
17

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Illinois Historic Route 66
Discovery Center
A “neon park” of restored signs and the classic Bel-
Aire seal fountain greet visitors to the center.
The Illinois Historic Route 66 Discovery Center
would be a state-of-the-art facility that interprets
stories and attractions along the road in exciting
and highly credible ways. The classic 1950s Bel-Aire
Motel in Springfield is an excellent location for this
facility.
Inside the center, hands-on exhibits explore the
stories of Historic Route 66.
“The Fast Lane” object theater brings the history of Route 66
to life with moving pictures, surround sound, flashing lights,
rumbling seats, misters, fans, and real artifacts.
Concept design for Route 66 Discovery Center
that shows the entire Bel-Aire Motel complex, but
the roof has been removed over the exhibit gallery.
The restored facade of motel rooms serves as a
backdrop to the exhibit hall.
18

Chapter 5–Interpretive Media and Facilities
Audio Tours
When combined with a booklet that includes a map
of the route and historic photographs, an audio tour
is a powerful interpretive option for corridors. The
visitor’s experience is enriched with music from
the era, exciting sound effects, and by narratives of
people who lived, worked, and traveled along the
Mother Road.
Courtesy of Susan Dugan, South Carolina State Museum
Cell phone tours
are another option
for providing
audio messages.
Several companies
specialize in cell
tours.
The Audio CD Tour for Gettysburg National
Battlefield contains passionate narrators, sound
effects of war, and Civil War era music to immerse
the listener. A companion booklet shows maps and
historic photographs to complete the interpretive
experience.
A downloadable digital audio tour is
recommended for Route 66. Digital audio
players are popular and versatile devices.
The Heritage Project website can provide
options for accessing the audio tour through a
Podcast or individual MP3 downloads.
When audio tracks are transferred
to a digital audio player, the user
simply clicks on the track number that
corresponds to a resource and listens
to the message.
19

Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Passport to Route 66
Attractions
A passport program encourages travelers to explore
the diversity of resources along Illinois Route 66 and
collect stamped symbols along the way. A durable
embossing stamp is recommended, which can be
installed even in outdoor areas.
An embossing stamp creates a unique threedimensional
imprint of an image on a passport page,
like this one at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
Front cover of the passport. The simple two-color design
reduces printing costs.
An inside page of the passport for the community of Atlanta.
The circles would be empty for stamping. Short personal
messages bring the community’s story to life.
20

Chapter 5–Interpretive Media and Facilities
Illinois Route 66
Heritage Project Website
This website is an essential method of reaching a
diverse audience. Travelers can preplan their trip,
make decisions, and download maps and other
information in their own homes. Recommendations
are detailed in the following areas:
►► Clearly define the purpose of the website
►► Create a distinct personality for the website
►► Determine the web content
►► Make the website accessible to a wide audience
►► Go beyond information: develop an interactive
and interpretive site
►► Provide useful tools for byway travelers
►► Provide useful tools for byway communities
A majority of travelers today plan their trips online.
A high quality, user friendly website is an essential
planning tool for Illinois Route 66 tourists.
Dynamic historic photographs can bring the stories
of the byway to life. The Copper Country Trail website
(www.coppercountrytrail.org) uses large focal point
graphics to introduce each section.
The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road website
(www.creolenaturetrail.org) features a “Kids Only”
page with several games that relate to the byway.
Interactive features like these can enhance the
family appeal of Route 66.
21

PASSPORT
PASSPORT
PASSPORT
PASSPORT
Illinois Route 66–Interpretive Master Plan
Enhanced Visitors
Guide
A Visitors Guide is the primary physical
medium that establishes the image of Illinois
Historic Route 66 in the traveler’s mind. The
current visitor’s guide is valuable, but a few
additions and changes could make this tool
more useful for travelers and enhance their
interpretive experience.
► Emphasize significant Route 66
attractions in an “Interpretive Travel
Guide”
► Provide community wayfinding maps
► Integrate the visitors guide with other
media through universal symbols
► Create a hierarchy of photographs
► Apply unified design standards that are
used with other media
Lincoln Region
Lincoln
105
The only town in America named for
Abraham Lincoln before he became
president. In 1853, Lincoln christened the
new town with the juice of a watermelon.
5 Postville Courthouse
914 Fifth Street
A reproduction of the first Logan County
Courthouse in use from 1840 to 1847.
Abraham Lincoln served as a lawyer on the
Eighth Judicial Circuit. 217-732-8930
Communities and
resources have
concise interpretive
messages.
1 Lincoln College Museum
300 Keokuk Street
A large collection of manuscripts, artifacts
and other memorabilia relating to the life of
Abraham Lincoln. 217-732-3155, Ext. 294
2 Railsplitter Covered Wagon
106
66
Old Route 66 and Hwy. 10
Recognized by the Guinness Book of World
Records as the “World’s Largest Covered
Wagon.” A giant fiberglass Abraham Lincoln
drives the wagon.
3 Tropics Restaurant (closed)
107
66
1007 Hickox Street
Opened in 1950 by Vince Schwenoha, who
served in Hawaii during tour of duty and
came up with the name. Original neon sign
with palm tree still stands.
4 Redwood Motel
725 Hickox Street
A classic motel built in 1955 at the junctions
of Route 66, 10, and 21. This had previously
been the site of a Standard Oil station built
in 1934. The current owners are restoring
the motel to the 1950s-60s era.
6 The Mill Restaurant (closed)
108
66
300 Keokuk Street
Opened in 1929, this Dutch-themed
building with blue trim featured a revolving
windmill and waitresses dressed in blue with
white aprons. The restaurant was famous for
its fried schnitzel. The Mill closed in 1996,
but is being restored as a museum.
7 Ghost Bridge
The concrete ruins of a bridge over Salt
Creek where the1926 alignment once ran.
Enjoy a short hike through the woods along
original pavement.
The Railsplitter Covered Wagon
66
Symbols connect to
passport stations
and audio tours.
Photos of actual
community
resources are
captioned and serve
as focal points.
Lincoln Community Map
1941-1977 Route
The communities near Lincoln were
built along the Chicago & Alton Railroad
with some of the most productive farms
in the world. Abraham Lincoln tourism
on Route 66 begins here.
7
3
4
2
6
5
1
1926-1940 Route
Community maps
shows labeled
alignments in
different colors,
street names, and
numbered resources
that correspond to
descriptions above.
Map graphic copyright
of Google Maps
14 www.illinoisroute66.org
22

Chapter 5–Interpretive Media and Facilities
Media and Activities for
Children
Since Illinois Historic Route 66 is billed as a “family
experience”, children’s interests should be addressed
in as many types of media as possible.
The goal of designing media for children is to keep
their interest on the long drive with exciting and new
activities, while providing a level of education that is
tied to the Illinois Route 66 themes.
Recommended media and activities include:
►► Travel packet with kid-friendly activities
►► Highway bingo game
►► An audio program with kids as narrators
►► Detour component on wayside panels that
encourages discovery that appeals to kids
►► The Route 66 passport program applied to a
special kid’s travel guide
►► Website planner for children’s experiences along
Illinois Route 66
Children enjoy the interactive Route 66 exhibits
in the Joliet Area Historical Museum. With recent
movie releases like Disney’s Cars and the associated
merchandise, more families are traveling the Mother
Road and searching for experiences.
The Maryland Bay Game includes an activity fun book and
stickers that introduce children to interesting sites along the road
from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Ocean City.
An audio program developed for children would
feature young narrators telling about their lives
working and playing along Route 66. Fun music and
sound effects would complete the experience.
23

Funded in part by Federal Highway Administration.