Illinois U.S. Route 66

In 1926, construction began on a 2,448-mile highway from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. Reflecting the increased use of motorized vehicles, Route 66 cut diagonally across Illinois and passed through Lexington. Sleek restaurants, service stations and motels were built specifically to accommodate travelers. The original two-lane concrete highway, a section of which is located here, was replaced over a span of thirty years by the more modern Interstate Highway System. In Illinois, Interstate-55 closely parallels Old Route 66.

Lexington, Illinois · United States