Several spots on Route 66 in Illinois were among the 89 that will receive a total of $22.5 million from the state's Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program. Also, several Route 66 sites also received funds from the state's Transportation Enhancement Program. Here are the Route 66-related tourism recipients and the total grant: $25,187 to … The post Several Illinois Route 66 sites get state funds from tourism, transportation programs appeared first on Route 66 News ..read more

The World's Largest Covered Wagon, complete with a figure of Abraham Lincoln riding it while reading a book, in Lincoln, Illinois, recently marked its 20th anniversary. The wagon is one of those attractions that seems older than it is. However, the Lincoln Courier newspaper reports it indeed was created in 2001 by Old Abe enthusiast … The post World’s Largest Covered Wagon marks its 20th year appeared first on Route 66 News ..read more

In another sign of the return to normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Logan County Tourism Bureau announced this week it would reopen its Mill Museum in Lincoln, Illinois, to the public at 11 a.m. on May 22. A news release from the bureau states the reopening follows more work on the historic structure, which … The post The Mill Museum in Lincoln to reopen to the public on May 22 appeared first on Route 66 News ..read more

Sam Sorrento's Pizzeria in downtown Lincoln, Illinois, is marking its 50th year this weekend with a ribbon-cutting at its new location just three doors down from the old site. The ribbon-cutting at 614 Broadway (aka Route 66) will take place at 4 p.m. Friday, June 7. It's part of Route 66 Weekend activities in conjunction … The post Sorrento’s Pizzeria in Lincoln to mark 50th year this weekend appeared first on Route 66 News ..read more

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner led a parade Sunday of hundreds of motorcycles to four Route 66 sites to celebrate the state's bicentennial. According to the Herald-News in Joliet, Rauner and 300 to 500 other riders made stops at the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, … The post Illinois governor hits several Route 66 sites during motorcycle tour appeared first on Route 66 News ..read more

This weekend's 49th annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln, Illinois, will attempt to break a world record for the most people dressed as Honest Abe in one place. According to a news release about the Sept. 21-22 festival: The public is invited by the Logan County Tourism Bureau to help break the World … The post Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln will try to break world record of Abe lookalikes appeared first on Route 66 News ..read more

The Mill in Lincoln, Illinois, will mark its 90th anniversary with a variety of activities June 7-9 during the first annual Route 66 Weekend in that city. The Mill, which opened as a restaurant along Route 66 in 1929, is beginning its third year as a museum highlighting the Mother Road and local history. The … The post The Mill to mark 90th anniversary during new festival appeared first on Route 66 News ..read more

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