Illinois Route 66

Williamsville Sherman Springfield Jerome Southern View Glenarm Chatham Auburn Divernon

Springfield Region Overview

The Capital Communities:
The history of these prosperous farm towns are intimately connected to the history of the state capital. This is the nexus of Abraham Lincoln tourism. Springfield and the surrounding area are the traditional pilgrimage sites celebrating the life of the martyred President Lincoln. The old Hard Road, 66 has always carried travelers to his home and tomb. The restaurants, filling stations, motels and the region have always capitalized on the Lincoln theme.

Springfield has the ambience of a state capital. The venerable capitol building, the stately architecture of government, the grand Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, and the immense state fairgrounds combine to create a feeling that this is a center of culture and politics.

Relationship to Route 66:
These communities in Sangamon County are among the oldest farm settlements in Illinois. They are aligned on the old Pontiac Trail, SBI 4, and all of the various alignments of Route 66. This is an excellent segment to see old brick pavement and the evolution of highway engineering on the road.

Williamsville
Established as another of the many villages along the railroad, the town was originally platted in 1853 as Benton. When the residents petitioned for a post office, they found that the name was already taken and the village was renamed Williamsville in honor of Colonel John Williams, a local land owner. Today, this primarily agricultural [...]

Williamsville Historic Depot and Box Cars
Collection of community memorabilia housed in historic box cars.

Die Cast Auto Sales
A 1930s service station with vintage gas pumps and signs.

Route 66 Dream Car Museum
A private vintage car collection open for tours seasonally and by appointment.

Sherman
In 1858, four men bought, surveyed and platted what is now called Sherman. The town’s name was a result of the luck of the draw. The four men placed their names in a hat and David Sherman’s name was drawn. Early settlers were predominately Italian coal miners. Because of its proximity to Springfield and I-55, [...]

Carpenter Park Route 66 pavement
An abandoned stretch of early Route 66 (1926-1936) now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Flagg Farmstead B&B
This attractive Italianate home is on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a Bed and Breakfast.

Double H Bar
Serving Route 66 travelers continuously since 1946.

Route 66 Memorial Rest Area
An original preserved rest area along Route 66.

Ray’s Route 66 Diner
A modern diner with true Route 66 kitsch, including a statue of Mary on an outdoor patio.

Springfield
Springfield was settled by trappers and traders who came to the Sangamon River in 1818. In 1821, Calhoun became the county seat of Sangamon County; due to the fertile soil, and trading opportunities, settlers from Kentucky, Virginia, and as far as North Carolina came to the city. By 1832, Senator Calhoun had fallen out of [...]

1908 Race Riot Self-Guided Historical Tour
A self-guided tour of nine historical markers that describe key moments in the Springfield Race Riot of 1908.

Pioneer Motel
The classic style and motel sign tower still greet guests.

Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation and Museum
Honors the men and women who have served on Illinois' highways since their establishment in 1922, including Route 66, or "Bloody 66" as it was called.

Lazy A Motel (Prairie Village Apartments)
A 1949 motel built with a Southwest Vernacular style—unusual for this part of the country.

Illinois State Fairgrounds/The Railsplitter Giant
"The Railsplitter" Abraham Lincoln giant statue was created in commemoration of the State of Illinois' 150th Anniversary of its statehood.

Shea’s Gas Station Museum
An internationally renowned, must-see Route 66 landmark filled with gas station and oil company collectibles.

Jungle Jim’s Cafe
This cafe serves up racing nostalgia and Springfield's famed "Horseshoe Sandwich."

Capitol City Motel
A classic motel that was active during the heyday of Route 66.

Watt Brothers Pharmacy
The oldest pharmacy in the Springfield area, it has been inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame.

Mel-O-Cream Donuts
Mel-O-Cream became a household word in the Springfield area after its founding during the height of The Great Depression. The North Grand location still features the classic signage and building.

Lincoln’s Tomb
The tomb, built of granite with a 117-foot high obelisk, is the final resting place for Abraham Lincoln and his family.

War Memorials: WWII, Korean and Vietnam
Open for viewing year-round to honor the brave veterans of Illinois.

Ace Sign Company
Tours by appointment to view the collection of classic neon signs.

Union Station Visitors Center
The building has been extensively restored, including its beautiful three-story clock tower, as a state visitor center.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
This impressive 200,000 square foot complex includes an Archive, Library, and Museum honoring the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

Maid Rite Sandwich Shop
On the National Register of Historic Places, this is one of America's oldest drive-ins.

Old State Capitol
This is considered by many to be Lincoln's capitol, where he delivered his famous "House Divided" Speech.

Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices
The only surviving building where Abraham Lincoln worked as a lawyer.

Coney Island Restaurant
Opened in 1919, patrons have enjoyed chili dogs (the "best in town") and hamburgers here for nearly 90 years.

Lincoln Depot
Three months after his election in November 1860, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield for Washington, D.C. departing from this depot.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Includes free guided tours of the Lincoln Home interpretive films, neighborhood exhibits.

Illinois State Capitol
Murals, plaques, paintings and statues depict significant people and events in Illinois history.

Illinois State Museum
Houses interactive exhibits that tell the story of the land, life, people, and art of Illinois.

Widow at Windsor Antique Shop
Offering fine European antiques and architecturals.

Dana-Thomas House
A famous 1902 Frank Lloyd Wright prairie-style home, open for tours.

Joe Roger’s Original Recipe Chili Parlor
Serves chili "just the way you like it!"

Route 66 Kicks Family Entertainment Center
Features a pizza buffet, bowling, go-karts, video games, laser tag, and bumper cars.

Cozy Dog Drive-In
A shrine to Route 66, the "corn dog on a stick" was invented here.

Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center
Includes a "mini museum" with a unique array of vehicles, signs and articles from the Route 66 era.

Curve Inn
A restaurant and bar with a storied Route 66 past, it was inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame in 2007.

Knights Action Park/Route 66 Drive-In
A diverse family fun park with water slides, bumper boats and batting cages, and a double feature drive-in movie next door.

Abandoned Brick Road Curve
An abandoned curve of the 1930-1933 Route 66 alignment that is still paved in bricks.

Abandoned Pavement under Lake Springfield
Original pavement still leads through the woods to where the road disappears under the lake.

Abandoned Snake Bridge/”Schuster” Bridge over Lick Creek
The 1926-1930 alignment of Route 66 (old Route 4) traveled over this bridge.

Washington Park Botanical Gardens and Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon
A domed conservatory with tropical foliage and more, and one of the largest carillons in the world.

Lincoln Memorial Gardens
Founded in 1936 as a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site
A reconstruction of the pioneer village where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood.

Jerome
This village of almost 1,500 is surrounded by the city of Springfield, the state capital. Jerome is positioned on the west side of Springfield and shares a common boundary on the east and south sides. Also, on the north side, Jerome shares a common boundary with the Village of Leland Grove.

Lauterbach Giant
A patriotic fiberglass "muffler man" giant at the Lauterbach Tire and Auto Service center.

Southern View
This village of almost 1,700 is surrounded by Springfield on the southern edge of the city.

Glenarm
This is a small unincorporated community in Sangamon County near Sugar Creek Bridge.

Sugar Creek Covered Bridge
This historic 1880 bridge spans 60 feet across Sugar Creek.

Chatham
The first farm settlers arrived in the area in 1816. The village received its name October 22, 1836. Chatham is located in what was once open prairie between Lick Creek and Panther Creek in Sangamon County, which at that time was about the center of the new state of Illinois, approximately ten miles south of [...]

Chatham Railroad Museum/Depot
Built in 1902, the station was restored by the Friends of the Depot, and the museum developed in partnership with the Chicago & Illinois Midland Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

Auburn
Only minutes from the State Capital, Auburn can trace its roots back to the earliest settlers in Sangamon County and all of Illinois.

Historic Brick Road
This original 1.4 mile hand-lain brick road was completed in 1931, and curves through corn fields near Auburn.

Divernon
This is another farm community near Springfield established in the early years of Sangamon County.

Divernon Depot
Small depot that serves as a railroad and community history museum.

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