Pontiac’s claim to fame is its deep roots on the original Route 66.
“We lean into our heritage,” said Pontiac’s Director of Community Enrichment Liz Vincent.
The first stop is the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum, housed inside the town’s former city hall and fire station. There, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge and history.
“As you’re walking around the museum, you literally go from Chicago to every town along the way, all the way down to the Chain of Rocks Bridge that gets you over to the Missouri side,” Vincent explained.
It’s one-stop shopping for Illinois’ impact on the Mother Road, and that’s why it is a must-see for so many on their journey west.
“Pontiac has got it going on,” said Eric Anderson, a traveler passing through the town, coming all the way from Hawaii. “I think it is a marvelous thing to do, to remember who we are as Americans and how far we’ve come in 100 years.”
Packed into its downtown, Pontiac has four museums and 28 murals. Its most famous one is a notorious photo stop for many travelers.
“It actually has bricks from the original Route 66 that went through our town. People can stand on those bricks, take their photo,” Vincent said.
While you’re in town, you will most certainly meet Rose Geralds, the 87-year-old museum docent.
“I’m so thankful I’ve lived this long to see this, I really am,” she said.
Geralds welcomes travelers daily. She is particularly excited about the uptick in visitors due to the Route 66 Centennial.
“The most I’ve seen is 777 people in one day,” Geralds said. “They are mostly internationals. That day there were 14 tour buses across the street.”
Though Route 66 has been decommissioned for some time, towns like Pontiac are proof that every mile has a memory.
And every memory is a piece of our history that is worth preserving.
