Above and below: inside the Palms Cafe on Arch Street, open since 1934 and beautifully restored as a working restaurant...

The 19-foot high Bunyon Giant, originally located in Cicero and now in Atlanta. He was donated by the Stephens family when the restaurant closed and moved here by the Preservation Committee in order to remain on 66. John Weiss restored the statue with a great new paint job!

Most alignments of Historic Illinois 66 are marked with the years they were in use as well...

The Mill Restaurant in Lincoln, IL first opened in 1929 under the Name "Blue Mill." In 1945, it was enlarged and painted red. Closed in 1966, it has been in restoration since 2007...

Original Route 66 in Lincoln. At the end of Cobblestone Avenue, which is brick-paved, this 2/10-mile stretch then dead-ends at the "Ghost Bridge" over Salt Creek...

The old bridge abutments that carried 66 over Salt Creek...

Donna stands atop the north abutment of the "Ghost Bridge..."

Above and two images below: In Williamsville, the old Die-Cast Auto Sales and some of its Route 66 memorabilia collection!

Half a truck, half price!!

Pioneer Motel in Springfield, circa 1940

Sugar Creek Covered Bridge near Chatham - a restored 1880 sixty-foot span built by Thomas Black. It is located in a quaint local park...a great spot for a picnic and not far off 66!

Becky's Barn in Auburn - just off the hand-laid brick-paved section of Historic Route 66. This is an awesome place for a cool drink and some great 66 souvenirs. Great folks as well! Just off Snell Road...a must see during your road trip...

This brick-laid section of the Mother Road was repaved over the original 16-foot wide concrete in 1932. Word has it that the then-governor of Illinois had a brick factory and arranged for the re-pavement job! Hmmmm...The 1.4 mile section is on the National Register of Historic Places as it is so historically significant!

Newer bricks are the lighter color; darker original 1932 bricks can be seen in the distance...

A colorful mural welcomes 66 visitors to Virden...

In Girard, Illinois, Doc's Soda Fountain/Dack's Drug Store is a fabulous place for lunch...Awesome food and very nostalgic, as the following photos show...

The old Dack's Drug Store section - now an historical display in Doc's...

Along Old Route 66 in Nilwood, Wild Turkey Tracks are embedded at the edge of the roadway...They date back to the 1920s when the cement was just poured!! They are now marked with a white outline and a marker sign...in the middle of north nowhere!