Weezy’s Route 66 is a local dining hub in the rural community of Hamel – with black and white checkered floors, red vinyl booth seating, shiny chrome tables, and vintage signs and photos give, and more giving Weezy’s its undeniable Route 66 appeal. They are famous for charbroiled burgers, homemade pies, fried chicken and biscuits and gravy.

The U.S. Route 66 and Illinois 140 intersection, in the heart of Hamel, originally featured a gas station, automobile showroom, office building, and a small white building called the Village Inn – which would soon become Tourist Haven, opening in 1938. It would have several other names – including “Earnie’s Roadhouse”, and “Scotty’s Route 66 Bar and Grill.” In 1965, Route 66 ceased running though the town, moved to the alignment of present I-55. Fortunately, this would not be the end of this small-town diner that would eventually become known as Weezy’s in 2009.

The Wildey Theatre is a premier gathering spot for cultural events along Route 66 in the Edwardsville area. First opened in 1909, the theatre originally served as an opera house that hosted concerts, dance performances and movies.

In 1984, the Wildey closed as a full-time movie theater and was named a "local landmark" a few years later. Since then, the city has renovated the theater back to its original glory and it is now a premium venue for guests to experience the best live performances and some of the most popular classic films with an upscale event space upstairs.

Opened in 1927, West End Station served as a bustling automobile service station on America’s iconic Route 66, for nearly four decades. Travelers and locals frequented the station to re-fuel, get an oil change, check their tires, and enjoy a cold soda.

In 1939, the West End Service Station closed temporarily for the repaving of Route 66 through Edwardsville and this time was used to make improvements to the facility. The old building was demolished and a larger, more modern building, the one you see today, was constructed. The new station re-opened on August 5, 1939, with its ideal location on this prime Route 66 corner, in the stylish “West End” of Edwardsville, the West End Service Station was a hive of activity. In the summer of 1964, around the time that I-55 bypassed Edwardsville, ending the Route 66 era, the building was purchased by a local dentist. For the next 55 years, it served as an office to a series of dentists — giving new meaning to the term “filling station.”

In the fall of 2022, the City of Edwardsville purchased the West End Service Station, one of the last original Route 66 service stations in nearly 60 miles, at a public auction to create this Route 66 historic site and visitor center, in conjunction with the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau.

At 170-feet tall, the largest Catsup Bottle in the world is the Brooks Catsup Bottle Water Tower in Collinsville. It was built in 1949 to supply water to the catsup plant below – which produced a signature tangy catsup.

The water tower was refurbished by the request of the Catsup Bottle Preservation Society. Now it is a beautiful, historic attraction off Route 66 and is known worldwide. Hypothetically, were the tower filled with catsup – it could hold 640,000 bottles.

This former site of the Collinsville Herald newspaper has been transformed into a full-service restaurant, production brewery, and craft distillery. Craft beers such as Proofreader Pale and Printer's Ink hearken back to the site's printing history at Old Herald Brewery & Distillery.

Spirits are available under their Ardent Spirits label and includes gin, rum & vodka. Lunch and dinner is served daily. Collinsville is also known as the World Capital of Horseradish and Old Herald distills a signature Horseradish Vodka. You can buy it and Giant Catsup Bottle Merch in their onsite store.

The remains of the most civilized prehistoric civilization north of Mexico are preserved at Cahokia Mounds Historic Site in Collinsville. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 2,000-acre tract contains the archaeological remains of the Mississippians and their ancient civilization known today as Cahokia.

The Mississippians built over 120 man-made mounds, of which 70 still exist. These mounds were used for purposes including ceremonial grounds and burial grounds. Walk the grounds and explore the remaining mounds.

Explore the Interpretive Center to learn more about the uniqueness of this prehistoric Native American city. Examine artifacts and become immersed in the culture of Cahokia. Finally, your visit to Cahokia would not be complete without a climb to the top of Monk's Mound - the largest man-made mound north of Mexico. Climb the 147 steps to the top and see the St. Louis skyline and outskirts of Collinsville.

The past comes to life in Granite City at It's Electric Neon Sign Park! Home to three gorgeously restored neon signs from Granite City's past as well as two larger than life murals and a love lock Chain of Rocks Bridge model, the Neon Sign Park celebrates the history of Granite on America's Mother Road.

Each sign, the Hudson Jewelers, Reese Drug Store, and Washington Theatre, belonged to well-known businesses in the city and date back to the early 20th century- you can read a brief history of each business on the plaques at their base.

The Chain of Rocks Bridge is one of the most interesting bridges in America with a 30 degree turn in the middle of this mile long bridge that sits above the Mississippi.

The bridge was designed with a bend for safer river navigation and to avoid the Chain of Rocks – a hazardous rocky shoal in the river. The Chain of Rocks is both the remains of a natural geological formation and the remains of an old river control structure. The legendary Chain of Rocks water intake towers can also be seen from the bridge – looking like miniature castles sticking boldly out of the River. Originally the bridge was built as a private toll bridge in the 1920s. This bridge is perfect for that Instagram worthy photo- op!

That is just a small sample of what the region has to offer. Make a day or two out of your time exploring Route 66 in Madison County – there are lots of gems just off Route 66 that you don’t want to miss. And, if there is one thing about the Mother Road that is the same across the country – it’s the invitation to slow down and stay a while. Visit RiversandRoute.com to learn more about Madison County and Route 66.