Day #24: Illinois Continues

This was one of the most productive days of the trip. I’ve got a nice big batch of highlights.

Just a couple of fiberglass statues at the American Giants Museum in Atlanta. This “professional” had a motorized waving arm which rotated at the elbow:

A restored Mortimer Snerd — more about these guys at my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/giants/ifsnerds.html

A giant fiberglass bass in Decatur. It was a fishing tackle shop but now a bar occupies the building and the fish remains:

This seal was originally installed in a fountain at the Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield. The motel was demolished but this guy escaped the wrecking ball and is now displayed at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill:

About 10 fiberglass animals displayed at the Nord Animal Hospital in Bloomington:

Pinky the Elephant has moved around in Springfield since he arrived in 1980. More about these DWO Elephants at my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/critters/eledwo.html

A restored Texaco station in Decatur:

Sprague’s Service Station in Normal has also been restored and now houses a Route 66 info center & gift shop:

This restrooms building from 1964 is at the Rail Splitter Rest Area off I-55 in Springfield:

A midcentury, spiral parking garage ramp in Springfield:

This former Kresge department store building is also in Springfield:

On to the signs. This one is either a restoration or replica in Springfield:

This former Stuckey’s billboard sign is displayed at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill in Springfield:

This modern sign is displayed inside Motorheads. There were several Ned Kelly’s in Illinois and I think they are all gone:

This business in Springfield is gone now but the sign remains:

This sign in Springfield has been repainted countless times. You can see the patched neon tubing holes from long ago:

Mr. John’s Dry Cleaners in Streator closed in 2021 but this sign remains:

This scaffold sign is in Springfield:

This Woody’s Steak House sign in Ottawa surely revolved originally:

This Krekel’s sign with a neon chicken is probably from 1993 when this Springfield location opened:

This Bear Manufacturing sign is at Autocraft Body Shop in Springfield. More about these “happy bear” signs at my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/signs/bear.html