Jentrois (the dark blue Jaguar F-Type) received some paint correction back in April. After waiting a month, I had some paint protection film (PPF) laid over the paintwork in some key places. At this point, the car was just shy of needing another oil change. So, obviously I needed to add some miles to the odometer so I could justify dumping in some fresh oil. The only logical solution was, of course, a road trip. |
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This road trip focuses on museums, defined by the Oxford Language dictionary as a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited. Sylvia and I settled on three museums in Illinois that we could visit during a single day trip. |
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The first museum was the American Giants Museum located at the corner of Arch and Vine streets in Atlanta, IL, 61723 (Phone 217 650 7117). This museum describes and shows giant sized statues like the ones scattered across various locations within the USA, such as along historic route 66. |
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I posted pictures for some of those giants in the Route 66 road trips Route 66. | |
There is a lot of great information inside the American Giants Museum which was built to mimic the appearance of a Route 66 service station. There are displays inside the museum describing the various giants as well as the refurbishing process. Outside of the museum are a couple of giants that are already installed. Other giants will be added, some of which will be displayed on a rotating basis. Very cool. | |
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The following images were shot in and round the Atlanta, IL, area. |
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The second museum was Beal's M&M Museum at 355 S Buchanan in Waggoner, IL 62572 (Phone 217 494 3320). This museum is operated by cancer survivor Steve Beal and his wife Patty Beal. This museum holds every type of M&M memorabilia imaginable reflecting genres such as Star Wars, Star Trek, NASCAR, music and musicians, voodoo, and others too numerous to mention. | |
This museum is not a candy store as it displays their personal memorabilia collection and does not include the candy treats. Furthermore, the items in the collection are not for sale. However, Steve and Patty are extremely knowledgeable about the origins of hundreds of M&M products distributed around the world. They were extremely informative regarding where their items were obtained and how someone else could start their own collection. |
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This museum was our favorite for this road trip. Please note that if you wish to visit this museum, it is best to call 217 494 3320 to make sure they available to unlock the museum and explain their items. |
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By this time, we were ready for lunch, but we still maintained the museum theme. We ate lunch at Docs Just Off Route 66 located at 133 S 2nd Street, Girard, IL 62640 (Phone 217 627 3491). This diner serves classic Route 66 style food inside a building that was once used as a pharmacy. |
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There are many displays of drugs, powders, and medical devices along the walls. There was one treatment device built from magnets, wires, handheld contacts, and a crank to turn to supposedly generate a current that was on a counter next to our table. |
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I asked our server what it was for but did not receive an adequate answer. I did not offer to hold the contacts while someone else cranked it. I later found out the device was a civil war era device similar to the TENS/EMS devices used today. |
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The final museum was the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center at 334 Old Rt 66 N, Litchfield, IL 62056 (Phone 217 324 3510). This museum covered the history and economic development of Litchfield with a smattering of Route 66, military, transportation, farming, and sports artifacts. |
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