Possibly the most famous road in America, Route 66 stretches 2,000 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles – and runs right through Logan County.
“It’s a huge part of our history, as it was such a big way people traveled before interstates,” says Alice Roate, executive director at Destination Logan County Illinois.
To catch the attention of passersby, towns went big – including installing unusual and oversized roadside attractions. Even today, giant oddities like a Paul Bunyon statue and the world’s largest covered wagon have people pausing to take photos and explore more around the area.
“You have to catch people’s eye to get them to get out of their car and stop,” says Roate, who notes they’re constantly running out of brochures about their roadside attractions because of their popularity.
A rich history punctuated by President Abraham Lincoln also runs deep here, with a museum at Lincoln College paying homage to his life, along with a statue at the Logan County Courthouse commemorating a speech he gave when running for U.S. Senate in 1858.
Whether you’re making this area your destination or just passing through, here are nine Logan County attractions along Route 66 worth a stop.
1. Paul Bunyon Statue
One of several molded fiberglass giants along Route 66 (known as “muffler men” after the company that once produced them), this 19-foot statue known as Paul Bunyon (yes, that’s how his name is spelled) depicts the folk hero in a red button-down shirt and blue jeans holding a comically large hot dog.
2. World’s Largest Covered Wagon
With a name recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as truth, this wagon with Honest Abe at the helm stands 24 feet tall and has been permanently parked on the lawn of the Best Western Lincoln Inn off Route 66 since 2007.
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3. Smiley Face Water Tower
You can’t help but grin right back at this cheerful sight in the town of Atlanta, which arrived in 2003 for the town’s 150th birthday. “You can see it from the interstate, and it’s one more thing to get people to stop and visit,” Roate says.
4. Atlanta Public Library and Museum
Before ever heading inside to check out its collection of 10,000 books, architecture buffs marvel over the unique eight-sided shape of this Neoclassical Revival building, located across from Route 66 Park in downtown Atlanta. One of few octagonal libraries in the state, it dates to 1908 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See more: 9 Spots to Explore Along the Illinois Lincoln Highway
5. J.H. Hawes Elevator
While no longer in operation as a wheat storage facility, this century-old, fully restored wooden grain elevator – a rarity in modern agriculture – now serves as a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a self-guided tour around the perimeter anytime or call ahead to schedule a guided tour through the Atlanta Visitor Center.
6. Route 66 Arcade Museum
This quirky museum filled with vintage pinball and video games from the 1930s to the ’70s makes you feel like a kid again as you take a break from the car to get your game on. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – just remember to stock up on quarters.
7. The Mill
First opened in 1929 as The Blue Mill, this family-owned restaurant became a staple dining spot for travelers in the heyday of Route 66. Its most famous delicacy: schnitzel, a breaded-pork sandwich with a meat slice twice the size of its bun. While The Mill hasn’t served food for nearly two decades, the town landmark is still drawing travelers for its museum and standout Dutch theme, complete with a windmill.
8. Walldog Murals
Create a DIY scavenger hunt by tracking down nearly 20 of these around Logan County, painted by a group of traveling muralists who create art in small towns worldwide. The murals also illustrate the story of the area while acting as the perfect backdrop for snapping photos to remember your trip.
9. Lincoln Heritage Museum at Lincoln College
Housed at Lincoln College, which recently announced its closure, this museum’s future was undecided at the time of publication but hopes to remain open. Roate says it stands out in that you can interact with many of the materials on display. It features a flag made for President Lincoln that was displayed on the back of the buggy that carried him during his presidential campaign, along with more than 100 items, including Civil War weapons, uniforms and letters.
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