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Pontiac, Illinois: Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum

Address:
110 W. Howard St., Pontiac, IL
Directions:
I-55 exit 197. Follow Hwy 116 about two miles east into town. Turn right onto Howard St. The museum is about one mile east, on the corner of Howard and Main Sts, on the south side, in an old firehouse. There may be a giant Route 66 sign painted on the south side of the building.
Hours:
Summer M-F 9 am - 5 pm, Sa-Su 10 am - 4 pm, fewer hours off-season. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
815-844-4566
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Route 66 Museum.

Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum

For those who can't get enough of Route 66 in Illinois by driving on it -- a collection of memorabilia. Outside is Bob Waldmire's School Bus Road Yacht, and a drive-up Route 66 mural photo-op for your vehicle.

Roadsideamerica.com Report... [08/15/2011]
Pontiac, Illinois - Rt. 66 Bus Arrives To Bewitch The Faithful
Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum:

Route 66 is America's most loved road. Bob Waldmire was its most loved driver. Does that make Bob's bus America's most loved vehicle?

[05/07/2011] Complete Story...

Visitor Tips and News About Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum

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Road Yacht.

Road Yacht

Bob Waldmire traveled Route 66 in his renovated 1966 school bus. Tours of the bus are available through the Route 66 museum. You can view the exterior of the bus, which is parked behind the museum building, for free.

[Sue Freeman, 05/26/2022]

On our tour through the Waldmire Road Yacht we were impressed by his hand-built toilet and were allowed to thumb through his vinyl records. He liked Jethro Tull.

Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum

Mr. Waldmire's VW van, which he named Waldmore, is inside the museum, and was the inspiration for Fillmore, the VW van in the movie Cars. He met John Lassiter while he was traveling Route 66 looking for ideas. They still sell their famous "What the F---! Is that Filmore?" t-shirts.

[Ben Perdue, 06/15/2016]

Route 66 Pontiac, Illinois.

Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum

Don't miss the original Rt 66 paving bricks found behind this wonderful museum. They let you pull right up and take a pic in front of this cool mural!

[Jason & Mary Berry, 02/14/2010]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Abe Lincoln Hair StrandsAbe Lincoln Hair Strands, Pontiac, IL - < 1 mi.
Burma Shave SignsBurma Shave Signs, Pontiac, IL - 1 mi.
Pistol-Shaped BuildingPistol-Shaped Building, Pontiac, IL - 3 mi.
In the region:
Tributes to Pluto Discoverer, Streator, IL - 20 mi.

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