Photo Ops on The First Hundred Miles

Photo Opps

Hop in your car and experience the unmatched nostalgia of Route 66! The First Hundred Miles of the iconic Mother Road are lined with throwback diners, fascinating museums and some of the most popular tourist spots along this acclaimed route. To help get you started, we’ve assembled a premade road trip itinerary, featuring some of the best relics and icons along The First Hundred Miles of

Route 66.

 ROUTE 66 STARTING SIGN 78-79 E Adams Street, Chicago There is no better way to kick off your road trip than by snagging a photo with the official Route 66 starting sign in downtown Chicago. You will know you have found the right place when you spot the iconic brown ‘Route 66’ signpost, featuring an additional sign above it that simply states ‘BEGIN’. This marker is conveniently located across the street from The Art Institute of Chicago, and just a short walk from Millennium Park. This essential photo opportunity is a must-visit

attraction for anyone beginning their cross-country journey in downtown Chicago.

 MILLENNIUM PARK 201 E Randolph St, Chicago Chicago’s sprawling Millennium Park, located just a short walk from the Route 66 starting sign, is home to several iconic photo-opps. You’ll spy the world renowned ‘Cloud Gate,’ a large reflective sculpture that’s affectionately called ‘The Bean,’ ‘Crown Fountain,’ where you can see your face displayed on a 50-foot wall of video bricks, and the snake-like ‘Pedestrian Bridge,’ which has been featured in numerous films and television shows. Just a short walk away at neighboring Grant Park, you’ll encounter the famous Buckingham Fountain. At the top of every hour, you can snap a picture of the fountain’s spectacular water show, or wait until the evening to catch a special presentation featuring choreographed lights and music.

 SKYDECK CHICAGO ‘THE LEDGE’ 233 S Wacker Drive, Chicago Looking for a hair-raising photo-opp? Step out 1,353-feet in the air with nothing between you and the ground except a pane of tempered glass at Skydeck Chicago! This attraction, known as ‘The Ledge,’ lets you experience Chicago from a whole new perspective. Located near the top of the former Sears Tower, which held the record for tallest building in the world for several years, you can easily see up to four states with the naked eye on a clear day. Daily tickets are limited, advance purchase is strongly recommended to this ADA accessible attraction.

 PLAINFIELD HISTORICAL

MUSEUM

23836 W Main St, Plainfield Through an amazing collection of vintage photographs and historical artifacts, the Plainfield Historical Museum transports you back to the bygone days of Will County’s oldest community. Items on display, dating back to the 1830s, retell the history of this beautiful community that was once vying with Chicago to be the economic center of Illinois. Conveniently located near Plainfield’s ‘oldtown’ shopping and dining district, this is the perfect place to pull over and admire some turn-of-the-century architecture.

 ILLINOIS AVIATION MUSEUM 110 Clow International Parkway South, Bolingbrook Located inside the Clow International Airport, the Illinois Aviation Museum not only features a complete history of air travel, this uniquely-located museum also affords you an opportunity to watch live take-offs and landings. Housed inside Hangar One, this impressive collection includes restored and replica historicallysignificant planes, dating from WWI to today. Aviation enthusiasts won’t want to miss a chance to snap some photos next to these historic warbirds.

 RICH & CREAMY 920 N Broadway St, Joliet When you see the giant pink cone and The Blues Brothers characters dancing on the roof, you’ll know you’ve arrived at the Rich & Creamy ice cream stand on Old Route 66. This classic drive-in ice cream building has been serving up happy customers for decades and doubles as the official starting point for historic Route 66 in Joliet. Alongside an offering of classic soft serve ice cream options, you’ll find the beautiful Route 66 Park. This walkway, that snakes along the Des Plaines River, is the perfect spot to snap a photo with your ice cold treat, before hopping back on the Mother Road.

 OLD JOLIET PRISON 1125 Collins St, Joliet The famed Old Joliet Prison, widely regarded by movie buffs and crime historians alike, is a classic sight for anyone driving along The First Hundred Miles of Route 66. Used as a filming location for the cult classic comedy ‘The Blues Brothers,’ and hit television show ‘Prison Break’, this monolithic limestone structure continues to draw in tourists, film and television crews year after year. Open from 1858 to 2002, the Old Joliet Prison housed numerous notorious inmates, whose stories are recounted on the Joliet Area Historical Museum’s various guided tours. Ranging from photo safaris to first hand accounts from former prison guards, these fascinating tours are a must-visit for fans of history, architecture and cinema.

 JOLIET AREA HISTORICAL

MUSEUM

204 N Ottawa St, Joliet One look on Instagram and you’ll see that The Joliet Area Historical Museum is home to some of The First Hundred

Miles’ most popular selfie stops. Just outside of the museum, conveniently located just to the right of the building’s entrance, you’ll find a larger than life 3D Route 66 selfie station, complete with an open Route 66 seal for you and your family to pose around. Inside, you’ll find life-sized statues of The Blues Brothers own ‘Joliet’ Jake and Elwood Blues, part of the museum’s newly added exhibit of the film’s connection to the city. After you snap your selfies, be sure to explore the museum’s ever-changing selection of local historical exhibits.  RIALTO SQUARE THEATRE 102 N Chicago St, Joliet Designed as a vaudeville movie palace, with immaculate interiors based on the ‘Versailles Hall of Mirrors,’ the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet is a true architectural wonder. This Neo-Baroque landmark, built in 1926, is considered to be one of the ‘150 great places in Illinois’ by the American Institute of Architects. The Rialto’s famous marquee, chandelier, rotunda, and stage are just a few of the photo-worthy opportunities that await you at this wonder of Route 66.

 GEMINI GIANT 810 E Baltimore St, Wilmington The most iconic and instantly recognizable of the ‘Muffler Men’ statues that dot Route 66, the Launching Pad Drive-In’s Gemini Giant is a beloved institution on the Mother Road, and one of the most popular photo destinations along Route 66 in Illinois. Known for its unique spaceage theming and quirky color palette, this goliath figure has been welcoming travelers since the mid-60s. In 2017, Holly Barker and Tully Garrett purchased the Launching Pad and pledged to return the iconic giant to its former glory. Within a year, a beautifully restored Gemini Giant was unveiled on its original parking lot pedestal, ready for its close-up.

 BRAIDWOOD ZOO 140 N Front St, Braidwood The Braidwood Zoo is a prime example of the vintage roadside kitsch that once peppered Route 66. Featuring a menagerie of animal sculptures built by late artist Jack Barker, who utilized scrap metal, wood and plastic to fashion the figures. After his passing, locals banded together to create this roadside attraction to highlight Barker’s folk art achievement. The ’zoo’ includes a band of about six animals, including a bright yellow giraffe, pink elephant and an impressive longhorn steer.

 TWO CELL JAIL 400 E Mazon St, Gardner You can experience what it was like to ‘cool down’ in the Two Cell Jail that was in-use during the heyday of Route 66. Constructed in 1906, and not closed until the late 1950s, this small town attraction is open to the public and features historical signage explaining its history.

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 AMBLER’S TEXACO GAS STATION W Waupansie St, Dwight Built in 1933 and named for its long-time owner, Amblers Gas Station is a Route 66 gem. Lovingly-restored, you can learn all you need to know about the Mother Road and more at this information kiosk and gift store. Ambler’s starts their year every May 1st; call (815) 584-3077 for current hours of operation. Widely-regarded by Route 66 enthusiasts as one of the best restored service stations along the Mother Road, this is a great destination to pull up and snap some selfies.  OUGHTON ESTATE WINDMILL 101 W South Street, Dwight Built in 1896, the Oughton Estate Windmill was one of the largest of its kind in the United States at the time of its construction. Located on the grounds of the Oughton Family Home, the 110 ft windmill tower was purchased by the Hogan family in 1996 and then transferred to the City of Dwight for further historical preservation. Since then, this towering mill has landed a coveted spot on the National Register of Historic Places. For fans of windmills and eclectic architecture, this is a great spot to pull over and snap some photos.

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Uncork a Great Time at Clark’s Run

Clarks Run Antiques

215 N. Division St., Utica 815.667.7190

• Unique Antiques & Gifts • New Tasting Room • Enjoy Wine & Beer Selection

We have video gaming, and check our facebook for weekly entertainment.

HOURS: Tues-Sat 10-5, Sunday 11-4 Closed Monday Clarks Run Creek Wine & Gifts

143 Mill St., Utica 815.691.8047

• Utica’s Best Kept Secret • Gifts & Wine • Bourbon • Serving Specialty Drinks • Video Gaming

HOURS: Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs 12-7 Fri & Sat 12-9 Closed Tuesday

 STANDARD OIL GAS STATION 400 S West Street, Odell While you can’t buy gas at this classic service station, you can still pull your car up for a picture celebrating an iconic sight along the Mother Road. Built in 1932, the now restored Standard Oil Gas Station in Odell is regularly open for tours. You’ll also find a great selection of Route 66 merchandise inside the station. Restored by the Illinois Route 66 Association, the Standard Oil building is now on the National Register of Historic Places. This should be on every motorist’s bucket list as a ‘mustsee’ along the route.

 WALLY’S NEON SIGN 1 Holiday Road, Pontiac Illuminating the sky, boldly announcing that you’ve found the ‘Home of The Great American Road Trip’, the towering Wally’s sign is an amazing mix of classic neon and modern LED signage. This impressive sign, which welcomes guests to Pontiac’s new full-service gas station and eatery, is best photographed during and after dusk, when you can see all the details that harken back to 50’s and 60’s designs. While you’re there, be sure to check out Wally’s 30,000 sq ft building, which boasts nearly anything a Route 66 traveler could need from a sprawling selection of snacks to souvenirs.

 BOB WALDMIRE BUS 110 W Howard St, Pontiac Now permanently parked at the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac, you’ll find Bob Waldmire’s former modified school bus/living space on display outside the museum. Said to have inspired the character ‘Filmore’ from the classic Pixar film ‘Cars’, Waldmire was an itinerant artist and conservationist, who could be seen driving his deeply personalized art cars along the Mother Road for many decades. While at the museum, be sure to also grab a photo of his Volkswagen Minibus, and read about the history of this local legend who delighted the world with his art and his love of Route 66.  WORLD’S LARGEST ROUTE 66

SHIELD

100 W Howard St, Pontiac Dubbed the ‘Quintessential Route 66 Photo Op’, this outdoor mural is known as the largest Route 66 Shield in the world, aptly painted on the back of the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac. Created by Diaz Sign Art in 2007, this signage has become a huge tourist attraction in its own right, and is an extremely popular photo op for visitors and Route 66 travelers. You can even submit your photo at IL66assoc.org to join a growing archive of people that have stopped at this iconic modern mural.