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Landmarks & Icons in Illinois

The Tropics Restaurant Neon Sign

1. The Tropics Restaurant Neon Sign

1109 Hickox Dr, Lincoln, IL

Historic, restored neon sign that serves as a popular photo op.

Landmarks & Icons Roadside Attractions Signs & Neon Historic Signs Iconic Signs Photo Ops Restored Neon
Buckingham Fountain

2. Buckingham Fountain

301 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL

Grand fountain centerpiece of Chicago’s Grant Park.

Landmarks & Icons Monument / Markers
Willis Tower

3. Willis Tower

233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL

Iconic skyscraper and major Chicago landmark.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
McCook Quarry

4. McCook Quarry

55th St and, Joliet Rd, McCook, IL

One of the largest aggregate quarries in the U.S.

Landmarks & Icons Natural Features
Ruby Street Bridge

5. Ruby Street Bridge

124-100 IL-53, Joliet, IL

Historic truss bridge crossing the Des Plaines River — photo-worthy stop.

Landmarks & Icons Bridges
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

6. Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

20953 W Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL

National cemetery honoring U.S. veterans.

Landmarks & Icons Memorials
Eagle Hotel building

7. Eagle Hotel building

100 N Water St, Wilmington, IL

Historic hotel structure with 19th-century roots.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Pioneer Gothic Church

8. Pioneer Gothic Church

201 N Franklin St, Dwight, IL

1857 Gothic-style church open for tours.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Keeley Institute

9. Keeley Institute

134 W Main Street, Dwight, IL

Historic treatment center known for pioneering addiction methods.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Dead's Man Curve

10. Dead's Man Curve

Jackson St, Towanda, IL

Notorious historic curve once considered dangerous on Route 66.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Alignments
Abraham Lincoln Watermelon Monument

11. Abraham Lincoln Watermelon Monument

101 N Chicago St, Lincoln, IL

Monument marking Lincoln’s famous watermelon christening.

Landmarks & Icons Monument / Markers
Route 66 Log Chapel

12. Route 66 Log Chapel

5th St & S Logan St, Lincoln, IL

Historic log chapel reflecting Route 66’s frontier roots.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Pig Hip Restaurant Memorial

13. Pig Hip Restaurant Memorial

100-198 N Frontage Rd, Broadwell, IL

Memorial honoring the historic Pig Hip Restaurant.

Landmarks & Icons Memorials
Dana Thomas House

14. Dana Thomas House

300 E Lawrence Ave, Springfield, IL

Frank Lloyd Wright–designed home with original furnishings.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
1867 Macoupin County Jail

15. 1867 Macoupin County Jail

215 S East St, Carlinville, IL

Historic limestone jail used from 1869 to 1988.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Union Station

16. Union Station

225 S Canal St, Chicago, IL

Grand historic rail terminal and architectural landmark.

Landmarks & Icons Station/Depots
Chicago Water Tower

17. Chicago Water Tower

806 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Surviving post-fire landmark anchoring the Magnificent Mile.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Structures
Route 66 Old Alignment

18. Route 66 Old Alignment

S Chicago Rd, Elwood, IL

Historic section of original Route 66 pavement.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Alignments
Riviera Memorial Place

19. Riviera Memorial Place

Route 66, Gardner, IL

Memorial site honoring the historic Riviera Roadhouse.

Landmarks & Icons Memorials
Chicago Alton Depot

20. Chicago Alton Depot

119 W Main Street, Dwight, IL

Restored early 1900s train station in Dwight.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Odell Pedestrian Tunnel

21. Odell Pedestrian Tunnel

S West St, Odell, IL

Historic pedestrian tunnel beneath Route 66.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Structures
Bridge Ruins

22. Bridge Ruins

1120 N Division St, Pontiac, IL

Remains of an original Route 66 bridge over the Vermilion River.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Bridges
Old Bridge - IL

23. Old Bridge - IL

1125 N Division St, Pontiac, IL

Remnant of an early Route 66 bridge and popular photo spot.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Bridges
Swinging Bridge

24. Swinging Bridge

Riverview Dr, Pontiac, IL

Historic pedestrian footbridge offering scenic views.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Bridges
Old Police Station

25. Old Police Station

15551 Historic Hwy 66, Pontiac, IL

Historic Pontiac police station with Route 66 connections.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Union Roofing

26. Union Roofing

410 N Division St, Chenoa, IL

Classic old-style building with rooftop signage popular on Route 66.

Landmarks & Icons Route 66 Historic Properties
Route 66 Historical Marker

27. Route 66 Historical Marker

Historic U.S. 66, Lexington, IL

Roadside marker denoting Route 66 heritage.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Markers
Old Route 66 Alignment

28. Old Route 66 Alignment

865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL

Historic roadway segment in Atlanta, Illinois.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Alignments
Lincoln City Hall

29. Lincoln City Hall

700 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL

Historic civic building along Illinois’ Route 66 corridor.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Elkhart Cemetery

30. Elkhart Cemetery

8 Governor's Dr, Elkhart, IL

Historic cemetery near the Route 66 corridor.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Sites
Village of Elkhart

31. Village of Elkhart

209 Governor Oglesby St, Elkhart, IL

Historic civic building in Elkhart.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Abraham Lincoln Tomb

32. Abraham Lincoln Tomb

1500 Monument Ave, Springfield, IL

Resting place of Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by a beautiful park.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Sites
Union Station

33. Union Station

500 E Madison St, Springfield, IL

Former railroad station now used for exhibitions and events.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Abraham Lincoln neighborhood (and house)

34. Abraham Lincoln neighborhood (and house)

413 S 8th St, Springfield, IL

Preserved neighborhood containing Lincoln’s only owned home.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Districts
Illinois State Capitol

35. Illinois State Capitol

401 S 2nd St, Springfield, IL

French Renaissance-style capitol building in Springfield.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Sugar Creek Covered Bridge

36. Sugar Creek Covered Bridge

769 Covered Bridge Rd #587, Glenarm, IL

One of Illinois’ oldest covered bridges.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Bridges
Brick Route 66 Alignment

37. Brick Route 66 Alignment

5435 Snell Rd, Auburn, IL

Original hand-laid brick section of Route 66.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Alignments
Macoupin County Courthouse

38. Macoupin County Courthouse

201 E Main St, Carlinville, IL

Historic courthouse known for its massive size and architecture.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Old Bridge - IL

39. Old Bridge - IL

Deerfield Dr, Dorchester, IL

Remnant of early Route 66 bridge and photo spot.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Bridges
Mother Jones Monument

40. Mother Jones Monument

5585 Mt Olive Rd, Mount Olive, IL

Monument honoring labor leader Mary Harris “Mother” Jones.

Landmarks & Icons Memorials
Route 66 Memorial Place

41. Route 66 Memorial Place

Fritz Ln, Sawyerville, IL

Memorial site commemorating Route 66 travelers and history.

Landmarks & Icons Memorials
St Paul Lutheran Church

42. St Paul Lutheran Church

6969 W Frontage Rd, Worden, IL

Historic Lutheran church with Route 66 ties.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

43. Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

4205-4207 Chain of Rocks Rd, Granite City, IL

Historic pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi River on Route 66.

Landmarks & Icons Bridges
Oatman Home

44. Oatman Home

501 E Main St, Collinsville, IL

Historic home tied to early Collinsville history.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Buildings
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

45. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

30 Ramey St, Collinsville, IL

Ancient Native American site dating to around 700 A.D.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Sites
McKinley Bridge

46. McKinley Bridge

St. Louis, Venice, IL

Historic bridge crossing the Mississippi River, part of the original Route 66 path.

Landmarks & Icons Historic Bridges
Route 66 Landmark

47. Route 66 Landmark

, Elwood, IL

Historic Route 66 location in Elwood, Illinois.

Landmarks & Icons Monument / Markers