Day 3, Friday
What a gem of a town! Cute beyond words and full of wonderfully welcoming people, as you step back in time!
Highlights:
- Route 66 Museum – highlights from Route 66, the 1950’s House, and a floor hosting the Livingstone County War Museum
- Murals – the town commissioned artists to create fabulous retro wall art
- The Pontiac Museum – of course!
- Jerry McClanahan’s RV – he was the original route 66 mapper who lived on the road in his amazing RV, and whose maps we are using right now. Sadly he died in 2012
- The Hallmark Shop! (see end of post)
The Route 66 Museum,Pontiac
The lovely Rose from the Route 66 Museum, who made us feel right at home in Pontiac!
The Route 66 Museum, Pontiac
The 1950’s house – just like visiting Grandma’s
The 1950’s house bedroom
Kitchen complete with ration books and a daybook for the home
Radio in the 1960s
The Livingstone County War Museum
All Gave Some, Some Gave All
We met ex-Korean Veteran Bob, who showed us around
Just a few of the hundreds of uniforms on display, all with their stories attached. Painstakingly curated by volunteers. Awesome
Chicago Daily Tribune
100’s of original newspapers on display
Information centers are all along Route 66, all in this style. Jerry’s RV and the magnificent Route 66 mural are behind
Jerry McClanahan’s Magnificent RV
One of Pontiac’s fabulous murals
Pontiac Mural
Place of Sweets!
His Master’s Voice
Pontiac Town Hall
The street sign that Mark walked into! If you look carefully on all photos from now, you’ll notice a red graze over his right eye
Mark’s first introduction to Abe Lincoln, the most famous Illinois resident
Pleased to meet you sir!
We met the lovely Rose at the Pontiac Museum, who happily modeled her signed jacket from roadster Billy Pierce!
Pontiac Museum Neon Sign
Museum panorama
1964 Parisienne Safari Wagon
1929 Oakland Roadster
I would also like to express my apologies to the owner of the Hallmark card shop in Pontiac, where we made a definite impression. Mark picked up a large glass candle by its lid, and it fell to the floor knocking other items off the shelf, and bringing the owner running. Happily nothing was broken other than the peace. We tried to distract her from our carnage by telling her the amusing story about Mark walking into the road sign.
We decided to buy a candle and when I got it to the counter I somehow dropped it too and it smashed all over the counter, bringing the owner this time with a dustpan and brush. We made our apologetic purchases and scarpered. As we reached the car, Mark realised he had lost his camera lens cap, and we had to go back to the Hallmark, and there it was on the floor. We apologised again. The owner said she would pray for us.
It’s fair to say Pontiac left his mark on us, but this was one stop where I think we made our presence felt too!
British Blonde Abroad 