The two new murals in Aurora and Joliet will join 17 interpretive gazebos constructed mostly in the last year. These gazebos, in conspicuous places, not only offer a spot of shade, but through panels, tell the story of the Lincoln Highway and its impact on the town they're located in.
In addition, other murals have been installed in the towns of Creston, Dekalb and Rochelle. A total of 40 of them are planned for the route.
It is hoped that these murals will get families off the interstates to experience the shops, restaurants and small-town USA. The sooner they realize that the drive is as much a part of the trip as the destination, like us road folk, they more enjoyment they will have. As we see it, the trip is every bit as important as where you're headed.
All of this doesn't come free. The murals alone are valued at $10,000 apiece and are funded by grants from the Federal Highway Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce. I don't know what the gazebos cost or who pays for it, but would figure that to be around $10,000 each as well.
I myself am a member of both the Route 66 Association of Illinois and the Lincoln Highway Association of Illinois. So I am into those old asphalt strips.
Crusin' Down That Old Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog
RoadDog's RoadLog Blog: Being my travels down those great two lane highways of this nation as well as news I learn about them from media sources. Since I'm also very interested in historic preservation, there will be a lot of that as well.
The Shamrock Court Motel in Sullivan, Missouri. It can be yours for $125,000. Lots of possibilities. Actually, now you're too late. Missouri's Roamin' Rich bought it.
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