Seen along historic Route 66 in Illinois. Inside the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Illinois is one of Bob Waldmire's modified vehicles, an orange 1972 Volkswagen Microbus. The VW Microbus was the inspiration for the character Fillmore from the 2006 animated motion picture Cars. Robert (Bob) Waldmire was an American artist and cartographer who is well known for his artwork of U.S. Route 66, including whimsical maps of the Mother Road and its human and natural ecology. U.S. Route 66 in Illinois connected St. Louis, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. The historic Route 66, first known as the Main Street of America and later dubbed the Mother Road by novelist John Steinbeck in 1939, took long distance automobile travelers from Chicago to Southern California. Illinois was the first of the eight states through which the route ran to have its segment of US 66 completed at a time when much of Route 66 was still a gravel-and-dirt road. Route 66 in Illinois has now been largely replaced with Interstate 55. Parts of the original route still carry traffic and six separate portions of the roadbed have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.—Wikipedia
Seen along historic Route 66 in Illinois. The Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Illinois located in the former Pontiac City Hall and Fire Station. Now known as the Pontiac Museum Complex. Established in 2004, it commemorates the people, places and events that gave Route 66 its special character. It features include plaques and displays honoring members of the Hall of Fame, as well as many other exhibits of historic and unusual interest. The Hall of Fame Museum is open year around. Admission is free. Induction ceremonies for new members are held each year during the Association’s annual Motor Tour.— il66assoc.org U.S. Route 66 in Illinois connected St. Louis, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. The historic Route 66, first known as the Main Street of America and later dubbed the Mother Road by novelist John Steinbeck in 1939, took long distance automobile travelers from Chicago to Southern California. Illinois was the first of the eight states through which the route ran to have its segment of US 66 completed at a time when much of Route 66 was still a gravel-and-dirt road. Route 66 in Illinois has now been largely replaced with Interstate 55. Parts of the original route still carry traffic and six separate portions of the roadbed have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.—Wikipedia
