Stop #1 Springfield, Illinois

I began planning the trip by figuring out which cities made sense along the route to the sites I wanted to visit, making sure drive times stayed within 4–5 hours. Once that was set, I booked lodging and then looked into interesting spots in each location. The only must-see places for me were Route 66, Mesa Verde National Park, and the Grand Canyon. For everything else, we just played it by ear.

Of course, I made an Excel spreadsheet with all the details, I included confirmation numbers, receipt numbers, and particulars for each stop.

Of course, some things changed along the way....

Here we go:

Springfield, Illinois

The first stop, Springfield Illinois, though not the start of Route 66 was supposed to be original Route 66 pavement. Actually Route 66 starts in Chicago, Illinois. The first alignment until 1936 started in Springfield, Illinois.

Route 66 What is it?

U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. Established on November 11, 1926, with signage erected the following year, the highway ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before terminating in Santa Monica, California, covering 2,448 miles (3,940 km).

Route 66 was once a key path for people heading west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, helping to boost the economies of towns along the way. Its importance faded in the mid-20th century as drivers switched to the Interstate Highway System. In 1985, it was officially decommissioned after being mostly replaced by interstates, but many stretches have been saved as Historic Route 66, now a National Scenic Byway and part of various state and local roads.

Route 66 has been widely represented in American popular culture and is often referred to by nicknames such as the Mother Road, a term popularized by John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939), as well as the Main Street of America and the Will Rogers Highway. The road and impact of the Interstate Highway System bypassing small towns along the route was central to the story in Disney's 2006 animated film Cars. The centennial of its inception is this year 2026.

Springfield Illinois Carpenter Park Original Route 66 Pavement

The Original Route 66 Pavement is tucked away beside the Sangamon River, this quarter-mile stretch has been untouched and overgrown for nearly 90 years. Once part of the first Route 66, it was only traveled for about a decade before the highway’s path shifted.

We asked several people in Springfield, but no one seemed to have heard of it. In the end, we gave up and headed to Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Later, we found out the Carpenter Park Original Route 66 Pavement was right next to the fairgrounds. Oh well, I was worried I might miss seeing Route 66 altogether. That was not the case more on that in future blogs.

Springfield Illinois and Abraham Lincoln

I was so wrapped up in Route 66 that I forgot that Abraham Lincoln was from Springfield. We took a bunch of pictures but didn't have time to explore the sites.

Springfield, the hometown of President Abraham Lincoln, is full of attractions for history lovers. You can check out his former home, the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and the Illinois State Capitol Building.

Abraham Lincoln spent much of his early adult life in Springfield, Illinois, where he settled down with his family and worked hard to achieve success. His time in the house at Eighth and Jackson Streets shaped many of his social and political views. Built in 1839 for Reverend Charles Dresser, who officiated Lincoln and Mary Todd’s wedding in 1842, the home originally had one and a half stories and five rooms, including a cozy sleeping loft. In 1844, the Lincolns bought the house for $1,500 and moved in with their son Robert, later welcoming three more children—Edward “Eddie,” William “Willie,” and Thomas “Tad.” Sadly, Eddie died of “consumption” just before his fourth birthday. The family lived there until departing for the White House in 1861, never to return. Today, the restored home offers a look at how it appeared in 1860.

There is a park in downtown Springfield that has informational signs:

It was nice to be able to read information about Springfield, Illinois. Most of the information I did not know.

Hiking

We didn’t go on any hikes in Springfield, but we did a lot of walking around the downtown area searching for Route 66 attractions. There are plenty of well-kept parks, sidewalks, and shady spots for strolls. If we’d had more time, it would have been fun to check out some hiking trails.

Conclusion

Springfield Illinois was a nice start to the trip. I wish we had found the Route 66 Original Pavement, but it wasn't meant to be. A bonus was that we got a bunch of information about Abraham Lincoln. On to Saint Joseph, Missouri.