Photo: Bull Durham Tobacco Ghost Ad – Collinsville, Illinois
Found just ’round the way from the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle on Main Street in Collinsville, Illinois.
Location: Google Maps
38.6701867,-89.9857204
Serendipity is a… Giant Rocking Chair?
“Babe! You’re never going to believe where I’m standing right now!”
“Where?”
“In front of the world’s largest rocking chair!”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Actually, I ended up here completely by accident.”
“Of course you did.”
My husband Kenny’s sarcasm came through loud and clear, even in text. It’s one of those things you learn to interpret after you’ve been partnered for a while. But, for all his disbelief that I hadn’t sought out the giant rocker – it was true.
While bumbling along The National Road in Illinois, I saw a sign for the World’s Largest Wind Chimes. Look… when something like that is advertised on a road sign? You visit it. It could go one of two ways: A fantastic triumph of roadsidery -or- a letdown of epic proportions. Both scenarios could be a win.
When I pulled in to Casey, Illinois following the signs for the chimes I was treated to a fantastic display of roadside Americana. Not only were there giant wind chimes (which you can ring), but sweet holy moly, there was a giant rocking chair, a mailbox, a pencil, a metal cactus. Holy crap, this place was awesome!
Casey wasn’t on my radar to visit, I’d just been passing through. Perhaps the universe tugged me there.
Travel Inspiration in a Cup o’ Coffee
You never know where you’ll find inspiration to get out and see good stuff! 🙂
The Blue Whale
Route 66
Catoosa, Oklahoma
The Gemini Giant
Route 66
Wilmington, Illinois
Tall Paul
Route 66
Atlanta, Illinois
Ghost Ad in Chenoa, Illinois: Selz Royal Blue Shoes
While riding Historic Route 66 in Illinois, I tried to take a turn through the towns that seemed to pop up like an oasis after a stretch of nothin’ much. Often my ride would be like road, road, road, TOWN, road, road road…
These places that punctuate the route seemed to hold the most lovely treasures, if you’re the Americana-lovin’ sort. This Selz Royal Blue Shoes ad is in the town of Chenoa, Illinois.
Before the trip, I’d never heard of Selz Royal Blue Shoes. But like so many other things, once my eyes were opened to it and I began looking for information I had myself another rabbit hole to fall down. There are many lovely Selz ads across the midwest.
- Flickr user Earl Leatherberry has a great gallery of Selz murals.
- Fading Ad Blog: Selz Royal Blue Shoes – Whitehall, Illinois – Bob Kisken & E. Leatherberry
- Fritinancy – Selz Sells
Passing Through Lincoln, Illinois
During my ride through Illinois in the fall of 2015, I followed Route 66 north from Springfield and passed through the town of Lincoln, Illinois. Prior to leaving home, I did almost no research about the areas I might ride through. I was just sort of floating on the wind and letting the ride unfold on it’s own in between a few punctation marks. And so, as I passed through Lincoln I wasn’t really looking to see anything in particular.
My knowledge of Route 66 is pretty limited in the grand scheme of things. I think that worked in my favor. When you don’t know what to expect, everything is a surprise and quite often, exciting.
When I pulled in to Lincoln, it felt like the type of America you see on tv. That may sound funny to you if you’re from an area that looks like Lincoln. But to people who exist in the bland, homogenized suburbs of a major city like New York, places like these look special.
In the middle of town there’s a square with green grass and a grand courthouse. Also a firehouse with a telephone booth on the roof. Brick buildings line the streets that spider away from the square. The whole place felt like it was covered in lovely nostalgia dust.
Figuring I may never pass that way again, I took a turn around the town, riding up and down the side streets around the town square. Along Pulaski Street, I spied a lovely ghost ad.
“Smoke Greenback Tobacco – Purest and Best(?)”
The ad is for Greenback Smoking Tobacco, a brand I’d never heard of before. A quick Google turned up this article: ‘Ghost’ turns up in Lincoln alley from The Lincoln Courier discussing the mural. The article from 2009 mentions the hope of findinf out about its history but my Google searches haven’t turned up anything more posted since then.
Greenback Smoking Tobacco Ghost Ad
Side of 414 Pulaski Street
Lincoln, Illinois
Google Streetview
Before continuing on, I snapped a shot in front of the big penny mural. A perfect way to say goodbye to Lincoln.
Petrol-Love: Olde Tyme Service Stations in Illinois
Last fall after finishing a stint at the Void Rally 10 in Virginia, I set off on a road trip around Illinois. My plan was to just bum around and look at stuff. As an Americana-lover, Illinois and it’s section of Route 66 have a lot to offer.
One thing that always catches my attention is old service stations. It must have something to do with my affinity for what petrol-powered vehicles represent to me: freedom, possibility, motion, the open road.
These were some of the lovely old stations that I saw in Illinois:
Dwight, Illinois:
Dwight, Illinois:
Dwight, Illinois:
Odell, Illinois:
Odell, Illinois:
Odell, Illinois:
I previously posted about this lovely old skeleton in Vienna, Illinois:
Photo: Lost in a Daydream
This post is part of a 29 posts in 29 days blogging challenge hosted by Kathy at ToadMama.com. Today’s writing prompt: A Daydream
If That’s Tall Paul, This Must Be Atlanta
After spending the night in Springfield, Illinois, I set off north on Route 66. My goal for the day was to see the Gemini Giant. But, between Springfield and Wilmington, there were a lot of sights to check out along the way. One of the places I was most looking forward to was Atlanta, Illinois – the home of Tall Paul!
Who doesn’t love a guy with a huge weiner? AMIRIGHT?
But, his weiner does look a little dirty.
And apparently he like to put in buns.
Moving on…
Isn’t Atlanta just lovely?
Even though there’s a man with huge exposed weiner that lurks in the bushes right in the middle of town.
Apparently Illinois is a hotbed of smiley water tower activity. In addition to the one that I saw in Makanda, wouldn’t you know there was also one grinning above Atlanta?
Just look at this guy. 🙂
Before I left home on my trip, I told the hubs that I would be visiting the guys on my coffee mug in real life. And I did 🙂
Gemini Giant and Tall Paul
The Gemini Giant Muffler Man of Wilmington, Illinois
The Gemini Giant stands sentinel on Route 66 in the town of Wilmington, Illinois. For as long as I can remember being aware of muffler men, he has captured my imagination as being special. Is it the handsome green space suit? The helmet? Maybe his name? I can’t say for sure.
What I do know is that he is my favorite muffler man. That’s just the way it is. To some people these fiberglass giants all look the same. They think, what’s the big deal? They don’t do anything. They just stand around being the same as every other muffler man who stands around looking the same.
But, those people would be wrong.
The town of Wilmington is 900 miles from my house. In the scale of this big, wide world it’s not that far. Hell, people ride further than that in a 24 hour period. But, the truth is – sometimes it seemed like I would never be able to get there. I mean, it’s easy to hop on a plane, fly to California and do some sightseeing around San Francisco or LA. A trip like that seems to have a much more concrete purpose, a more definitive destination. You don’t question that you would be able to fill your time there with a million things. When would I ever have a reason to find myself in Wilmington, Illinois?
But, you know what? The only places you can’t get to are the ones you decide you can’t get to. When you decide there isn’t reason enough to go, there isn’t reason enough. But, when you decide you can and there is? Well, then…
In October of 2015, I finally made my way to Wilmington.
It might sound silly but when I approached the spot where he stands I actually got a flutter of excitement. Especially when my GPS stopped marking his distance in miles and started marking it in feet. I may have said “Ohmygahhhhd” out loud. Maybe.
When I pulled into the lot and parked, I stumbled around for a few minutes just gawking.
I’d made it!
To a parking lot of a closed down restaurant!
In Illinois!
😀
Reconciling what you’re seeing with what you’d imagined is a curious feeling. Arriving at knowing versus wondering is almost a physical sensation.
Though I was dazzled by his gorgeous green suit, that I did something that I set out to do was as important than seeing the thing itself. Maybe more important.
I just now realized that the Gemini Giant is secretly smiling underneath his helmet. I know someone else like that.
Thankfully, I don’t have a football jammed up in mine, though.
Just wanting to is reason enough to do things.