This museum has been open for many years now, and sadly not many people know that this even exists!…read moreOf course, if you're into deep local history...then this is for you. History as in the National Historic Road. The road that was envisioned by our Founding Fathers (mainly George Washington and Thomas Jefferson) as a way from settlers to move from the East to the West...or at least the Midwest, in this case. The road, originally known as the Cumberland Road, started in Cumberland, Maryland, and ended right in Vandalia, Illinois. There has been a lot of debate over historical accuracy, based on the road actually ending in East St. Louis. The museum is open every day except Sunday, during the daytime. There is an attendant usually present. Museum is kind of small, with a couple rooms to go in (such as a theater), but you get a lot of cool information while you're there. You can also chat with the attendant on duty and they'll give you plenty of travel information. It goes without saying, if you're into the history of America's National Road, this is definitely for you. Kind of like how several people are into Route 66, but not really. It's a must-stop when you are traveling on the road.

Beware!!! Google maps will take you to the wrong location! I'm on your side Apple Maps, you never…read moredo me wrong! From the Vandalia State House, take 185/40 (N. Kennedy Blvd) north, turn left/west on W. Randolph Street, then right/north on N. Perkin's Street one block to W. St Clair Street. Turn left and it's up on the little hill on your right/north side. I absolutely love state capitals, which would lead me to enjoy past state capitals. I had been in rural Illinois a few times and always wondered what Vandalia had to offer being that it was second Illinois Capitol City (an oldest one still existing, unlike Kaskaskia which is now under water). I followed Vandalia's tourist page to the few landmarks that existed. One was what is called "Little Brick House". It's an n example of simple Italianate architecture that has been preserved by the Vandalia Historical Society. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is thought to have been constructed in the mid 1800's. According to the website, "Josephine Burtschi, local artist and historian, was born in this house. In 1956 she purchased the house and started restoring it to its original appearance. Over the years, the Little Brick House has been renovated and furnished with period pieces, antiques, and early Vandalia artifacts. Contained within the six rooms are furniture, china, engravings and books acquired from descendants of state officers, legislators and the Ferdinand Ernst Colony who lived in Vandalia when it served as capital. The library, called the Berry-Hall room, pays tribute to James William Berry, the first talented artist of Illinois, and to Judge James Hall who established Vandalia as the first literary center west of Cincinnati. (http://www.vandaliaillinois.com/littlebrickhouse.html)" There's a little history for ya!

No way! A fire breathing dragon right off the Interstate? I am not going to miss this!…read more Yes, the Kaskaskia Dragon takes tokens (You can buy them at the neighboring shops) and will breathe fire at you. Each token is good for about 15 seconds of real actual FIRE! How flipping awesome is that? And then you're back on the highway. Super easy. [Round number review 22300 overall - 1277 of 2024 - 205 in Illinois]

What cooler roadside attraction is there compared to a fire breathing dragon. Hehee…read more For a $1 coin, you can see 15 seconds of glory. It goes super quick so I recommend at least purchasing two coins. You purchase the coins at the liquor store across from the dragon. Side note - the liquor store doesn't have bathroom , but there is one available at the laundry/pet wash next door.

Out in Rural Illinois, I came upon this lovely looking home and while it was all locked up, it was…read morestill super interesting and thankfully, they have brochures in the front that provide some interesting details about the history of Charles M. Wright (the First, Second and Third) and their home. The first Dr. Wright collected architectural journals and suppliers' catalogs that he used in planning his 18-room home. The 6,000 square foot home has 7 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It was the first home in Altamont with indoor plumbing. If you're passing through, stop in. I'm hoping that in the ten years since Deb's review, they now allow non-flash photography. [Review 1281 of 2024 - 208 in Illinois - 22304 overall]

The tour is lackluster. The best thing about Wright Mansion is the period details but there are no…read morephotos allowed. Period. There's no book of photos to buy. Many museums don't allow flash photos and want that the sound settings on the cameras to be set to silent but that makes sense. We won't visit again and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Come to Casey and see the World's Largest Things. They're all over town and it's only a couple of…read moremiles off I-70 as you're passing between Terre Haute and Saint Louis. On the the big ones in the downtown core is this, the World's Largest Wind Chime. It is accessed through the patio area of what looks like a cute restaurant, Whitling Whimsy Cafe, which was closed on Sunday when I was here. In fact, most of the town was closed on Sunday. Still, the Things are accessible. The Wind Chime is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records and are 49 feet tall with the largest chime being 42 feet long. There is a center rope pull so that you can make the chimes sound if it's not a windy day. I like that this one is interactive. [Review 19676 overall - 131 in Illinois - 648 of 2023.]

The World's Largest Wind Chime is located right in the heart of downtown CAsey, IL, (a quaint…read morelittle town with a population of 3,000). The Wind Chime, Rocking Chair and tetter totter are all located right outside or across the street from the Whitling Whimsy Cafe. This is one of a dozen "things" offically recognized as the World's Largest: World's Largest Wind Chime World's Largest Golf Tee World's Largest Pitchfork World's Largest Rocking Chair World's Largest Wooden Shoes World's Largest Mailbox World's Largest Gavel World's Largest Truck Key World's Largest Barbershop Pole World's Largest Teeter Totter World's Largest Golf Driver World's Largest Swizzle Spoon Well worth a detour off of I-70.

Kudos to the town of Mount Olive for keeping this historical piece of history alive and well…read moremaintained. What is most amazing is that it is all done by a small group of volunteers. On the door is a hand written note saying, "Door is open. Come on in." Once you enter, it is a mini museum with artifacts, photos and memorabilia from the peak of the popularity of Route 66. What was shocking to me, is the museum does not have an attendant. The viewing is on the honest system and nothing seems to go missing. If it were not for the Illinois Route 66 Passport, I would have never discovered this hidden treasure on the historical Route 66. Since there's no attendant, getting the passport stamp is self service. I liked that they had the passport stamp given to all participating businesses. What I liked, is that they also had two stamps designed specifically for Soulsby's Service Station. This little tourist attraction is more popular than you'd think. When I arrived, there were two other cars already looking around and as I was leaving another car was arriving. For a little town attraction, this pace is a worth a stop, even if you have to detour.

It's very rare I review gas stations, especially those that haven't been in operation since 1990!…read moreBut this is more than just a defunct station. It's a historical landmark on old Route 66 in the little community of Mount Olive. A little history: a man named Henry Soulsby opened the gas station in 1926, at good timing thanks to Route 66 traffic. A TV repairs service was later added. The station is now one of the oldest, original gas stations in America. It is a Route 66 Hall of Fame inductee. A handful of volunteers have restored the station to its 1950s originality. When I visited the old station this summer, it was really cool stepping back in time. I found it odd that there was no attendant present, and the doors were open. I trust that someone nearby looks after the station every day. Route 66 enthusiasts visit this station every day, as it is indicated in the sign-in book inside. You'll be surprised how many different places in the world these visitors are from! There's a mini-museum inside, complete with several pieces of memorabilia - including old maps, pieces with Shell logo on it, old signs, etc. Whether or not you're into Route 66 history, you will certainly get a thrill out of this place! I recommend visiting the station during daytime hours, as I'm not sure how late the doors are open. And of course, bring your camera - as there are several photo opportunities here.

You will find this nice sculpture on the Mississippi Riverfront, in St Louis, just behind the…read moreGateway Arch. It is the work of Harry Weber who completed the piece, which is made of bronze and sits 22 feet tall, in 2006 The 3.5 ton sculpture depicts explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Newfoundland dog, Seaman. It is owned by the city of St Louis and was commissioned by the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation to commemorate the bicentennial of the explorers' return September 1806. According to Weber, it "took seven months of long hours to complete the structure in clay, make molds and reassemble it like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It is a nice sculpture and Weber does a great job encapsulating Lewis and Clark's feeling of accomplishment, sacrifice and pride. It is very detailed and well done. The viewer can really connect to the piece. The sculpture is designated a national Lewis and Clark site by the US Park Service and spending on how high the Mississippi River gets, sometimes the statue is submerged in the river. In 2014, the statue was removed and restored to repair damage it had received from the flood. In 2016, the statue was returned to the riverfront to a location slightly south and about 17 feet higher than before. Before it was moved, during a flood situation, it would look like the duo were sailing into shore Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would recommend checking out the Gateway Arch and Park while visiting this sculpture.

We joined a group of people to do a group tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kirkwood, MO. It…read moreis well worth the $20 tour fee. Anne was our docent. She was very knowledgeable about Wright and Russell and Ruth Kraus who the house was built for and the only residents. The Kraus house is one of the very few Wright houses that have not been remodeled and contains the original furniture designed by Wright. It has a cozy feel from the time you walk inside. I was intrigued by the esthetic design throughout the home.

I've been to about 150 Frank Lloyd Wright homes and have been lucky enough to have been inside…read morearound 30. We didn't know if we could get on the tour that day so we first stopped by to see it and take some pictures. We met an intern and found out that we could get in on a tour about 2 hours later. So we paid our fee and went to see Frank Lloyd Wright's mentor, Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building in downtown St. Louis. I believe this is one of Sullivan's best work still standing. When we returned for the tour I was stunned. This is a great, late house by Wright that has many magical and playful elements to it. It's has most of the original furnishings and something totaling unexpected in a Usonian house--art glass windows. The tour guide was new and did an excellent. Everyone involved in this project should be very proud of the work they've done, and continue to do.

It was only a matter of time. The Mug Tree was an old tree. Mugs were placed with it and that…read morebrought it alive again in our hearts. Many, many mugs. Travelers along the highway admired that old tree, adorned with mugs. It offered a silent respite in our daily lives. It offered hope, that no matter what pains we carried, there was the Mug Tree. The Mug Tree, which was created out of the generosity of hundreds of people, most likely strangers to each other, but friends with a common goal of taking an old, dead tree along a country highway and giving it purpose, once more. The Mug Tree. A local landmark, never to be recognized as a national monument. Unlike the more famous curiosities just a few miles north in Casey, this oddity stood outside of the door to fame. Yet, to those of us who passed by, it stood for years alongside that country highway, day and night. Like an old trusted friend. So, to those who read these words and never knew the Mug Tree, I am sorry for your loss. And to those thousands of travelers that passed by and noticed, if you grieve, you grieve not alone. Dear Mug Tree: So long, my friend. Thanks for all the smiles you brought to our hearts.

So... It was fun to see this tree in passing on the way to Effingham but I felt like the house on…read moretop could've been utilized for birds or something.