Certified Illinois Expert

The recently built museum on the site of an old gas station, refurbished sign visible behind

The Ariston Cafe, an old brick building with a rounded top

Jubelts bakery and restaurant with setting sun behind

Route 66 in Litchfield. Due to poor timing I was not able to enjoy any of these three famed sites on my recent trek.l but I’ve enjoyed hearing from 1,000 people how good the pies are at Jubelts

A one story church on the highway with white siding and a funky, modern little fin adorned with a cross

A midcentury church w a tall cross and some large triangular windows, angular roofline

Another late midcentury church brick block. Three crosses above door

Red brick church, kind of Romanesque

Some Route 66 churches in Odell and Pontiac

This is your county

Looking into the space beneath the dome

A lighted archway leading towards a stairwell. A big flower design in the shiny floor

Looking up some stairs. Marble and light bulbs all around

The courtroom with its chandeliers, wooden railing, and nice green ceiling divided up by beams

McLean County Courthouse

A Greek revival home with four white columns. Paint flaking off

An abandoned gas station with some very old looking cars parked under it. Checked pattern on overhang

Pontiac #route66

Statue of Mary in front of brick wall and pine trees

Our Lady of the Highways, Old Route 66, south of Farmersville

A red brick church with a very very wide archway over two double doors and an octagonal tower on west side and a small octagonal bay window protruding on east. Perhaps I’d call this Romanesque but I can’t ever be sure

A cool church in Odell - St. Paul. Tower is visible from I-55 and #route66

I know. One of the all time great libraries of Illinois

I know!! I assume maybe this room maybe another courthouse function at some point, keeping money in here or else some sort of sensitive records?

Interiors in Litchfield (new), Lincoln, and Lexington (3/3)

The library at the McLean county history museum in the old courthouse. (2/3)

Some Illinois libraries along #Route66. (Joliet, Lincoln, Litchfield, Mt. Olive.) Some interior shots to follow in post below (1/3)

Some very cool stuff down there around the courthouse and in some of the neighborhoods. And great food too. If you ever head that way I can send you some details!

I spent Monday night/Tuesday morning there but sadly had to push on up the road. Yes praying something can be done with it or at least the lower level facade. Glad it hasn’t been wrecked. That and the church down the street are just so iconic

A brick, art deco early “skyscraper” from the late 20s and thirties

The old State Farm building in Bloomington

would love that!

Bloomington has lots of great art deco buildings. It is the Gotham of Central Illinois

Some viewed from below. Bluish at the very top and ringed by little lightbulbs

Photos and info on a number of Black leaders from McLean county printed on fancy diamonds suspended in the air in the atrium of the courthouse

Very cool Black History display floating inside the dome of the @McLeanCoIL History Museum. Bloomington Normal has some of the best interpreted and preserved history in the state IMO

A dark stretch of road with an abandoned newspaper office, an eye care offices and some vacant buildings. Sky is a pretty sunsetty color

A quiet part of Litchfield at twilight

That sounds like a good trip!! I was at the 80s museum today. Sooo cool. Sadly I spent so long talking to the guy that I didn’t get to see as much of Dwight as I wanted. But I think I’ll be spending more time on 66 this summer!

Bad timing on my part. Tried and failed at some drastic measures to get that pie

Little vintage gas station white with red pumps

White brick gas station w one red pump labeled miller tires

Enormous two story combination gas station house in kind of a Tudor style labeled Sprague’s super service

Little white gas station with vintage shell sign and yellow pumps

#route66 gas stations in Dwight, Odell, Normal, and Mt. Olive

The Smith Library in Lexington. Brick with crow step gable

View of stage and piano in large, open room

Small puzzling chamber with two doors and two windows.

Staircase with wood railings and nice window

The Lexington Public Library. First time I think I’ve seen a top floor ballroom/theatre type setup in an old library. Also pictured: a small third-floor puzzling chamber. #route66

A door on a brick building with a very large ornamental terra cotta (?) or carved limestone (?) disc of some sort above it

Look at that magnificent door disk. A dentist office in Litchfield, have not yet learned of the original use.

Insane! Thank you for sharing

Yes, striking!

Yes! The launching pad restaurant closed and I figure the city or someone bought the statue to protect it

Diner table. Out the window is a fiberglass Elvis

Polka dot diner in braidwood

Geese on the Kankakee River