Experience the place to be on Route 66 in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Springfield, the capital of Illinois, is the place to be on Route 66 in Illinois.
With existing, new and recently renovated Mother Road assets throughout the city, Springfield
beckons travelers to stay “More Than One Day!” 2022 brought a new and exciting adventure on
Route 66 in Springfield, the Illinois State Fairgrounds Route 66 Gate 2 Experience opened in June.
Continuing to enhance the Gate 2 area is part of the road to celebrating the 100th Anniversary of
Route 66 in 2026.

Route 66 Experience Highlights

 Illinois State Fairgrounds Route 66 Gate 2 Experience boasts a 25-foot tall steel giant, adorned
with an American flag. The Route 66 Legends Neon Sign Park, lit every evening, 365 days a
year, is nothing short of breathtaking. You can walk the entire Route 66 from Chicago to the
Chain of Rocks Bridge within this exhibit.

 Shea's Gas Station and Museum will reopen to the public May 21, 2024. This outdoor
adventure is one you don't want to miss on Route 66 in Springfield.
Shea's Gas Station Museum was a Texaco, and later Marathon, gas station from 1946 – 1982.
Owners Bill and Helen Shea transformed the property into a world renowned museum in 1995
until Bill passing in 2013. The building contents were auctioned off and property sold in 2016.
The City of Springfield, thanks to a DCEO Route 66 Grant, made improvements to the property
including reproducing the original signage on the exterior and interior of the station.

 Experience our Living Legends and Landmarks of Route 66 in our Explorer Passport, available
at the Springfield Visitors Center and 3 other local historic sites. This guides will take you from
North to South along the route, catching some of the truly legendary people and places paying
homage to the Mother Road.

 Visit the Ace Sign Museum, a great stop to see all the neon and other signs that made Route
66 famous, including the recently restored Sonrise Donut sign. Ace Sign Museum tours offered
Mon-Fri at 10am and 2pm.

 Explore Springfield's culinary uniqueness at the famous Cozy Dog Drive In, Motorheads Route
66 Bar, Grill, Museum & Motordome, grab a slice at Mahan's Filling Station or indulge in
elegance at Maldaner's, the oldest continuously operated restaurant on the route in
Springfield.

 Route 66 Monarch Flyway will be in full bloom again this year. The vision of the project is
supporting thriving monarch populations that sustain the monarch migration into perpetuity
and serve as a flagship for the conservation of other plants and animals.

 Cruise into the capital for the 23rd Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival,
September 27-29, 2024. Cars, music, fun and a night cruise into downtown to kick-off the
weekend.

About Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau -
The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) is the official destination marketing organization
for the City of Springfield, Illinois. As a department of the City of Springfield, the SCVB markets the
capital city as a unique convention, meeting and leisure destination in support of our City, our
community and our hospitality partners.

# # #

Looking for more information, or to schedule an interview contact Darrin Thurman,
Tourism Manager, Visit Springfield. Call – 217-200-1907