Memory Lane Original Section of Rt. 66 - Lexington, IL
Posted by: 
adgorn
N 40° 39.053 W 088° 46.755
16T E 349571 N 4501525
A 1 mile stretch of original Route 66 that was dedicated in 1926. It has been restored back to the 1940s era with vintage billboard and Burma Shave signs. It can be walked year-round and is open to vehicular traffic during festivals (and waymarkers.)
Waymark Code: WMCR23
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 10/05/2011
Views: 19
From (
visit link)
"Lexington has a section of the Mother Road that has been turned into an interpretive walking trail called "Memory Lane." Old signs and original pavement great the Route 66 visitor. A section of Old Route 66 is preserved as a walking trail and park. This is a nice place to take a stroll or sit and reflect on the old road. This section of original Route 66 is quiet now, the better to hear the faint whispers of all who have traveled this celebrated highway of dreams before you. The Illinois Route 66 Association posted a Roadside Attraction sign here. "
That pretty much says it all. I drove down the lane without any problems, although I did get a look from a resident at the other end. My coordinates reflect starting at the east end near the Rt. 66 Roadside Attraction sign.
About Rt. 66 here from the nearby IL Historical Society marker:
"In 1926, construction began on a 2,448-mile highway from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. Route 66 reflected the increased use of motorized vehicles. The road, which cut diagonally across Illinois, 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."