Old Log Cabin
By John & Lenore Weiss
As the story goes…
The most well known structure to
bee rearranged is the Old Log Cabin
restaurant relocated on Route 66
in Pontiac, Illinois. In 1926, this famous eatery was successfully serving the growing number of travelers
on Route 66. But this popularity of
Route 66 soon presented a problem. A new, four lane bypass alignment of Route 66 was constructed.
As a result, the rear of the building
faced this new and improved highway.
To solve this dilemma, the originally
structure was lifted up and turned
around to bring the front of the building to face the entire the huge number of Route 66 travelers.
The ingenuity and entrepreneurial
spirit of these mom and pop establishments is what makes the road
continue to be so magical…
Illinois
Continued From Page 38
necessary to cut a canal through half a
league of prairie to go in a bark by easy
navigation from Lake Erie to the Gulf of
Mexico.” These words would resonate
across centuries until that canal was
actually opened in 1848.
Elsewhere on the historic site, kiosks
tell the story of the portage and the
canal. A path through the grass leads
to the remaining remnant of Portage
creek that connected the Des Plaines
River through Mud Lake to the Chicago
River.
three house museums for the visitor to
enjoy. Built in 1838, the Gaylord Building
(www.gaylordbuilding.org,
815-8389400) is the oldest surviving structure
related to the canal. Its first use was as a
warehouse to store the supplies needed
by canal construction crews. Today it is
the hub for canal visitor information and
exhibits, such as the permanent Illinois
Passage: Connecting the Continent
that examines the impact of the canal
Lockport
on the growth of the nation.
I&M Canal Passage Driving Tour
On the banks of the canal and
The Illinois State Museum uses
From I-55 and Lemont Road to Peru, nearby, many buildings in Lockport
the 75-mile course of the I&M Canal relate directly to the canal era, and
Continued Page 49
Passage Driving Tour is well marked
with blue-and-yellow signs. The logo
on the signs represents the boys who
worked long hours tending mules who
pulled the 150-ton canal boats. Maps of
the driving tour are available from the
I&M Canal Corridor Association (www.
canalcor.org, 815-220-1848) as well as
at many of the points of interest along
the way.
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BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL
Produced & Printed In The USA • Keeping You On The Mother Road • 2012-2013