Pontiac
Pontiac, Illinois: A Small Town with Something for Everyone
Centrally located in Illinois, Pontiac offers its visitors a unique collection of interesting places and great things to see. Home of the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame & Museum, the Pontiac Oakland Automobile Museum & Resource Center, the Livingston County War Museum, and the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum, Pontiac has something to suit every taste. There are 24 large, outdoor murals that are conveniently located in the historic downtown shopping district, and nine Looking for Lincoln wayside story boards nearby. The Vermillion River frames several of the beautiful public parks, and during the summer, the Vermillion Players present live theatrical entertainments at Chautauqua Park.
Heritage travelers who enjoy architecture will find much to like in Pontiac. The 1875 Livingston County Courthouse, the jewel of the historic downtown area, is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful courthouses in Illinois. Additionally, there are several historic homes, including the Jones House, the oldest brick home in Pontiac, the Yost House Museum and Art Center, and the Strevell House, a carpenter gothic, wood-frame home which hosted Abraham Lincoln when he visited Pontiac as a lawyer traveling the judicial circuit.
History lovers will be entranced with Pontiac's past. Pontiac's early history includes visits from Abraham Lincoln, and a period of time when the city was one of the Midwest's leading shoe manufacturers. Serving as the commercial, social, and political center of the area, Pontiac offered riverboat service for passengers and freight, early railroad service, and was strategically located on what was then known as the Pontiac Trail. Today, visitors typically arrive by car using either Interstate 55 or the more nostalgic Old Route 66. Amtrak service is still available and overnight visitors will find a selection of hotels and bed and breakfasts.
Visitors enjoy Pontiac'small town hospitality, unique walking tours, quaint parks and, perhaps, a stroll through Humiston Woods, a stunning 300 acre nature preserve. Pontiac is the only Midwestern city to boast of having three swinging pedestrian bridges, and no visit is complete without crossing the Vermilion River on at least one of them. The downtown area buzzes with excitement with a variety of annual street festivals, live entertainments, classic car shows, and fairs. Softball tournaments, drama in the park, and other outdoor events are scheduled throughout the spring, summer and fall in Pontiac. Heritage travelers, antique hunters, and art lovers will always find something unique in Pontiac. The Pontiac Visitors Center has maps and brochures available, and every traveler should pick up a VIP button to receive special discounts from many of the local shops.
Pontiac's Top Attractions
1. Four great museums: Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum; the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum & Resource Center, Livingston County War Museum; the new International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum. Admission Free to all museums, and we love donations!
2. Looking for Lincoln Story Trail Exhibits -- Nine historic markers/sites which explain Abraham Lincoln's many and varied connections to the city.
3. Route 66 Scenic Byway Exhibits -- Five wayside story boards telling the history of the Mother Road in Pontiac.
4. Three Swinging Pedestrian Bridges -- The only place in Illinois to see three of these suspension bridges.
5. Historic Livingston County Courthouse, and downtown shopping district. Architecture dating back to the 1800's, and wonderful shops.
6. Murals on Main Street -- walking tour of 24 large, colorful, outdoor murals depicting the social, economic, and cultural history of Pontiac.
7. Historic homes open to the public, Route 66 heritage sites, beautiful parks, and three swinging pedestrian bridges.
8. Convenient, clean, and friendly restaurants and lodging options.
City Spotlight 314 - Marshall: International Mural Painting Event featuring the Walldogs
This episode of City Spotlight takes an extended look at the Marshall International Mural Painting Event, that took place in Marshall, IL, during the third week of June, 2016. Featured interviews are with Marshall Mayor, Camie Sanders, and Jennifer Bishop of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce. The main part of this program is a featurette on the painting of murals in Marshall by artists from around the world.
Route 66 Pt. 1 - Missouri Life TV (Episode 3 - Season 5)
Welcome to a special episode of Missouri Life TV featuring the mother road, Route 66! In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we’ll revel in the beauty of the Mighty Mississippi river during a stroll across the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Taste a St. Louis staple at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Witness art that is larger than life in Cuba, Missouri - or “Mural City”, as it’s sometimes called. Wander through Bob’s Gasoline Alley, adorned with relics from the glory days of the Old Road. Snack on a variety of soda flavors and popcorn at Fanning Outpost. Stop by the quaint Wagon Wheel Motel and it’s beautiful neon sign. And see more of the rich beauty along America’s Main Street as we travel South through Pulaski County across the Devil's Elbow Bridge, making a stop at the Stagecoach Stop museum to reminisce on the many decades of history it honors.
Missouri Life TV is brought to you by Missouri Life Magazine. Subscriptions available at missourilife.com
Made possible by
MISSOURI LIFE MAGAZINE
Produced by
THE EVOKE GROUP
Producer
WILL MOORE
Director of Photography
AUSTIN KOLB
Aerial Cinematography
JAMES SMITH
Post-Production & Editing by
THE EVOKE GROUP
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Special thanks to:
FASTLANE CLASSIC CARS
DAN HILLEBRANDT
JAMESON LEAVELL
EXPLORE ST. LOUIS
JENNIFER HOLLENKAMP
GREAT RIVERS GREENWAYS
ANNE MILFORD
BEN GROSSMAN
MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ANDREW WANKO
MADELINE REICHMUTH
TED DREWES
TRAVIS DILLON
CUBA
KIM ROEDEMEIER
FRISCO’S BAR & GRILL
JIMMY WEST
BOB’S GASOLINE ALLEY
BOB MULLEN
DARLINE MULLEN
BOOTS COURT MOTEL
DEBORAH HARVEY
FANNING 66 OUTPOST
RYAN AND SAMANTHA THOMPSON
KAYLEE DAVIS
66 DRIVE-IN THEATRE
NATHAN & AMY McDONALD
RED OAK II
ROSE & LOWELL DAVIS
ROUTE 66 MUSEUM
MARK SPANGLER
PULASKI COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU
KAREN HOOD
OLD STAGECOACH STOP
TERRY PRIMAS
DEVIL’S ELBOW BRIDGE
LAURA HUFFMAN
WILDER’S STEAKHOUSE
MARCIA PAWLUS
Heartland Highways Program 1102: Atlanta, IL, Skinner Farm
A visit to Atlanta, IL along route 66. A tour of The Skinner Farm Village and Museum, in Perrysville, IN