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Gemini Giant unveiling, South Island Wilmington Illinois WILMINGTON — Wilmington Mayor Ben Dietz will be on hand for Saturday afternoon's celebration of the Gemini Giant Muffler Man's return to Wilmington at his new location. The public unveiling of the Gemini Giant at South Island Park will take place on Saturday, and the event goes from 1 to 3 p.m. "We’ve got The Route 66 Band lined up to play the tunes, T he Route 66 Mobile Diner will be serving up classic diner fare , Route 66 Memorabilia will also be onsite. We will also have plenty of amazing photo opportunities as well and the Island Park District will be ensuring all ages will be having an awesome time," Dietz announced in recent days.

Built by Stuyvesant "Jack" Peabody on a 12 acre plot of a larger 450-acre farm (Lemont horse farm in the early 1920s). It struck gold when Route 4 was aligned by it Not far from the big city it offered Chicagoans a countryside setting for dining. Peabody died in 1946 it was leased out and eventually bought by the Hasterts (1954) and Robert and Doris' son, Robert Jr. still owns the place. The company has branches in different towns, and the menu still offers " The World's Greatest Fried Chicken " and the restaurant can sit 1,000 guests. There is a Route 66 wayside exhibit on the premises telling its story. Don't miss the giant chicken at the main entrance and the old neon sign is still there, and more colorful than in the past.

The Taco Bell restaurant at 6956 Ogden Ave was originally a "Prince Castles", an Ice Cream store back in 1941. It was a chain established by Earl Prince and Walter Fredenhagen. Their classic was the "One-In-A-Million" malt. When the partners split in 1955, Fredenhagen renamed the business Cock Robin. He ran it until 1990 and sold it to Peterson Ice Cream Co. that eventually sold them all. Info from www.theroute-66.com

At 7020 Ogden Ave. was " Carl Slerba. Standard " listed in 1957. We believe it is the current tire shop at 7000 Ogden. It has a curved Streamline Moderne office, with service bays to the right a design used by Standard Oil in the 1940s and 50s. The aerial photos show a gas station here since at least 1938. Info taken from www.theroute-66.com

Turn right along 16th St. and head north for seven blocks to visit a former cottage-style Phillips 66 gas station. At 6801 16th St, to your left. This old brick building is a former Phillips 66 station that is now the J & S Foreign Car, Inc. a car repair shop. The building with its steep gabled roofs has the "cottage style" favored by several gas companies in the 1930s to blend gas stations into their urban surroundings.

Turn left along South Harlem and head north for almost one mile. At 3011 South Harlem Ave. is the classic building that housed Richards Restaurant and Lounge. The postcard pictured below, from the 1950s tells us that it was located on "Route 42A, 1 mile North of Route 66" that it belonged to Joseph Wilkos whose slogan was "Thou Shalt Not Go Hungry," it also had a mysteriously named "Secret Harbor Lounge." Nowadays it is still catgering to hungry patrons as Lalo's Mexican Restaurant. The original building is still there, but the large neon sign has gone as you can see in the "Then and Now" sequence above. Info taken from www.theroute66.com

At 6609 Ogden Ave. Ogden Top & Trim is a three generation business founded by Frank Nesladek in 1919. Restorations of classic cars and customizing automobiles is their forte. The award wining company is a must see stop on Ogden Ave. Info taken from www.theroute-66.com

On the SW corner of Lombard Ave with Ogden Ave, at 6226 Ogden Ave, is Paisans Pizzeria and Bar, with its "mini-spindle" (a car kebag) sculpture that is a homage to the classic Spindle sculpture created by artist Dustin Shuler (1948–2010) in 1989. It was a 50-foot tall spike that had eight cars impaled on it, it was located at Cermak Plaza in Berwyn, one mile north of Ogden Ave. It was a controversial landmark and this led to it being taken down in 2008. Both are pictured below. The mini spindle has seven miniature vintage cars impaled on a 23-foot-tall spike. It is the work of local artist Pete Gamen, who created it in 20222. Mini spindle US66, Berwyn. Source . Original Spindle sculpture (gone).

This is the Oldest Original Site of the White Castle chain on Route 66. The building dates back to 1939, and has been modernized over the years. The first White Castle opened here on January 14, 1939, Route 66 was only thirteen years-old. White Castle was the first hamburger chain to standardize their marketing, from their buns and burgers to their buildings. It was the creation of Walter Anderson and E.W. "Billy" Ingram. They opened the chain in 1921 and by the early 1930s had one-hundred restaurants. They imposed strict standards and their premises were clean and spotless, reassuring customers that they were eating good quality food. McDonald's Ray Kroc wrote about this very restaurant in his autobiography, Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald, as follows: "...They used a sort of tiny ice-cream scoop to make a patty about one-inch square, and they sold their burgers by the bagful..." 1. Below is a "Then and Now" set of pictures of this classic landmark.

At 6150 W Ogden Ave., Cicero. The 19 foot tall that stood here is now located in Atlanta, Illinois, as the Muffler Man Holding Hot Dog . Also known as Paul Bunyon  (yes, Bunyon with an "o" and not Bunyan with a "u") it was originally from Cicero. Atlanta's Muffler Man was originally installed at the Bunyon's hot dog stand in Cicero, Illinois (see image), on Ogden Avenue. Hamlet Stephens owned the stand and he purchased the gigantic fiberglass statue of "Paul Bunyan" to promote his business in 1966 and it stood over his shop for 38 years. He deliberately spelled its name "Bunyon" (with an "o" instead of an "a") to avoid copyright issues. This "Paul Bunyon" held a gigantic hot dog in its hands. In 2002 the stand closed and in 2003 the Bunyon Giant was moved to Atlanta. Stephens died in 2012 but his work lives on. The original building is still standing, as you can see below in the "Then and Now" sequence. Info taken from www.theroute-66.com

In 1946 Bill Henry was a shipping clerk for the Crane Company, a manufacturer of plumbing fixtures in Chicago. That summer he hauled a wooden trailer to the corner of Ogden and Austen in suburban Cicero, outfitted it with a kitchen, and started hawking kosher hot dogs on evenings after work. . By 1950 his hot dogs were so successful that Henry quit his job at Crane and expanded. He built a six-stool, red brick diner with two walk-up windows a half block up Ogden. When McDonald’s opened a red and white striped pavilion one a mile down Ogden from Henry’s Hot Dog, Bill Henry decided he wanted a building just like it. So, Bill overlaid the brick with blue and white ceramic tile stripes, mounted a sign of his own design--a giant hot dog with fries and an arrow pointing to the stand, and admonished passers-by to come in and enjoy his hot dogs and french fries in portions so large that “It’s a meal in itself. Henry's Hot Dogs, a Chicago-land classic, was started in the 1950s by a man named Henry (his last name is not specified). He initially operated from a hot dog wagon on Austin just north of Ogden. Later, he moved to the current location on Ogden Avenue in Cicero, a spot that gained popularity as part of Route 66. The stand is known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and fries, with the fries often served alongside the dog, and its iconic, large, hot dog and fries sign.    Here's a more detailed look at the history:       Early Days:   According to legend, Henry started with a hot dog wagon on Austin just north of Ogden.  Route 66 Connection: When Route 66 became famous, Henry moved his stand to its current location on Ogden Avenue in Cicero. The Sign: The large, distinctive sign, featuring a hot dog and fries, was added to the stand after Henry saw the McDonald's pavilion down the street. He wanted a similar eye-catching structure and created the iconic sign. Chicago-Style Hot Dogs: Henry's is known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, which typically include a poppyseed bun, chopped onion, pickle spear, tomato, sport peppers, celery salt, green relish, and mustard. A Local Landmark: Henry's has become a well-loved landmark for locals and those traveling Route 66.

Berwyn’s Toys & Trains is a family owned toy and hobby shop located in Berwyn since 1992. Our original location was on Harlem avenue, but since 1998 has been on Odgen avenue, in the historic Route 66 district. The building was a Chevy dealership from 1950 until 1998. During the 1950’s Berwyn had 43 dealerships along Odgen avenue. The owners have retained the original authentic style of this building along historic Route 66. Customers describe the serious selection of playtime favorites at Berwyn’s Toys & Trains as delightfully daunting. There are toys everywhere here! Thomas the Tank, Breyer Horses, Smurfs, and Folkmanis puppets line the walls, and there is a huge selection of LEGO® blocks and kits for kids (and kids at heart). The shop specializes in O-Gauge electric trains, but the endless train options include HO and G-scale trains. It’s one of only 20 locations in the United States that’s an official stop for the Thomas the Tank Wooden Railway. There is a huge electric train cruising around a model village, and there’s a play area with three tables where you can roll up your sleeves and test out the toys. The shop is a welcoming spot that operates out of a refurbished Chevy dealership in the historic Route 66 district. In the 1950s, Ogden Avenue was lined with 43 car dealerships. In a nod to the historic history of this stretch of road, the owners of Berwyn Toys & Trains maintain the building’s authentic Route 66 vibe, so you will be surrounded by nostalgia. The vintage car models and old train sets inside the store continue with the nostalgic theme. The toy shop was on Harlem Avenue in Berwyn before moving to this historic spot on Ogden Avenue in 1998. This walk-in hobby store draws enthusiasts from around the world. It’s a great way to spend the day for kids and adults alike!