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German In Pontiac, Illinois, you can really get a feel for the spirit of the legendary Route 66.
Pontiac was another stop on our road trip along the legendary Route 66 through Illinois. At first glance, it’s a quiet little American town, but in Pontiac you can soak up the full Route 66 atmosphere. At the local Route 66 Museum, you can learn just about everything there is to know about the famous highway.
But even better are the conversations with the local people: everyone has their own personal Route 66 story and tells it with pride. And this despite the fact that Route 66 has long since been replaced as an official highway by modern interstate highways. Find out what you can experience in the small town of Pontiac in Illinois here!
Pontiac: Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum
The Route 66 Museum is the must-see attraction in Pontiac on a Route 66 road trip in Illinois. So many memorabilia, photos and exhibits about life on Route 66 have been collected here that you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a time machine. I could have browsed here for hours!
Walldogs: Street art artists from the very beginning
Special highlight: The inner courtyard of the Route 66 Museum is home to impressive murals! These are reminiscent of the Walldogs, the artists who creatively painted stores, billboards and walls with advertising messages before the advent of mass media. Today, Pontiac is trying to revive this tradition, and the most beautiful Route 66 murals can be found all over the city.
Hi, I’m Tatiana, the blogger behind The Happy Jetlagger. I love sharing honest, passionate, and authentic stories about my travels. All tips are carefully researched by me.
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The most beautiful (and totally Instagram-worthy) mural is located at the back of the Route 66 Museum! The artistic Route 66 emblem is legendary!
Bob Waldmire: My hero of Route 66
Even before the terms “digital nomads” and “van life” existed, Bob Waldmire (1945–2009) was drawn to the open road: He spent half his life traveling up and down Route 66 in his converted van, writing stories, drawing, and illustrating. His yellow VW Bus, which now stands in the center of the museum, even served as the inspiration for Fillmore from the Pixar movie “Cars”! Bob Waldmire drove this van across the U.S., always along Route 66. His artistic Route 66 maps are still relevant today and definitely make a great souvenir—available for purchase in the museum shop.
An even better souvenir, however, is the attitude toward life that defines the fascination surrounding Bob Waldmire: His passion for living life on his own terms, away from the mainstream and in complete freedom, really impressed me.
When he wasn’t traveling, he lived in a converted school bus, which was usually parked somewhere in his hometown of Springfield. The school bus is on display in the courtyard of the Route 66 Museum, fully furnished just as Bob Waldmire lived in it: a cozy collection of mementos and souvenirs from several decades on Route 66.
Fun Fact: Bob Waldmire was the son of Ed Waldmire Jr., founder of the legendary Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Illinois! In addition to the famous Cozy Dogs, Bob Waldmire’s works can also be purchased here.
Museum of the Gilding Arts & Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum
Although Pontiac is named after a Native American chief and not after the well-known U.S. car brand, there are still plenty of vintage Pontiacs on display next door at the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum.
Not far away is the Museum of the Gilding Arts —at the end of the 19th century, the production and application of gold leaf were very popular. Here at the museum, you can learn more about this technique. Neither museum is an absolute must-see—but if you happen to be in Pontiac, it’s worth stopping by to take a look.
Admission to all three museums (Route 66, Gilding Arts and Automobile Museum) is free, but donations are welcome.
Food & Drink in Pontiac
Italian cuisine in huge portions is served at Bernardi’s, probably the best Italian restaurant in the city. The dishes were okay, but the ambience was much more interesting.
Coffee shop, which is also a meeting place in the town: At The Cup and The Scone, you can make friends right away.
All locations are within walking distance in the small Pontiac, so simply park your rental car and explore the city on foot!
*Disclaimer: This research trip was sponsored by Enjoy Illinois.
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