Sage Scott The quirky public art pieces along Route 66 are part time capsule, part creative canvas. From fiberglass giants to a man-made forest, these art installations turn Route 66 into an unforgettable, open-air gallery stretching across 2,400 miles of Americana. Related Articles G et into all national parks for free on April 19 Professional deal finder reveals truth about cheap airfare Acclaimed designer reveals the item to pack for a good night’s sleep at any hotel ‘Coolcations’ surge in popularity as travelers seek escape from summer heat New laws target overtourism at popular travel destinations Some artsy landmarks were built to draw in passing motorists, while others emerged from personal passion projects. Together, they capture the spirit of America’s most famous ghost highway, a road that’s always been as much about the journey as the destination. Fabulous fiberglass statues Muffler Men, Paul Bunyans and other fiberglass behemoths tower over diners, gas stations and roadside attractions, adding a quirky charm to Route 66. As you head west from Chicago, the first Muffler Man stands atop Cigars and Stripes BBQ Lounge in Berwyn, his cigar clenched between his teeth, a chicken wing in one hand and a bottle of hot sauce in the other. In Atlanta, Ill., the American Giants Museum showcases several fiberglass creations, including Texaco Big Friend, The Snerd and an Esso Tiger. The museum will open on April 2 for its 2025 season, featuring their newly acquired Bob’s Big Boy statue. Step outside the museum and you’ll spot Tall Paul, a lumberjack-style giant clutching a hot dog. A short walk in the opposite direction leads to Lumi the Pie Lady, one of the few female giants along Route 66. A menagerie of oversized fiberglass figures surrounds the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Ill. This includes a surfer dude, the iconic Sinclair dinosaur, and, of course, the store’s namesake pink elephant. At Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66, visitors are greeted by Buck Atom, a 21-foot-tall space cowboy Muffler Man that blends classic Americana with futuristic flair. Standing near him outside the former gas station turned eclectic souvenir shop is Stella Atom, a 19-foot-tall Uniroyal Gal. Just down the street, Meadow Gold Mack, a friendly lumberjack-style giant, welcomes visitors to the Meadow Gold District. Standing proudly at Northern Arizona University’s Skydome are two 25-foot-tall “Muffler Men” statues, affectionately known as “Louie the Lumberjack.” Originally commissioned in the early 1960s for the Lumberjack Café, a popular Route 66 eatery, they were donated to the university in 1973. One of these towering figures even made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in “Easy Rider.” Blue Whale of Catoosa Perched on the edge of a pond just east of Tulsa, the Blue Whale of Catoosa has flashed its toothy grin at Route 66 travelers since the early 1970s. What started as a heartfelt anniversary gift from zoologist Hugh S. Davis to his wife, Zelta, became one of the Mother Road’s most beloved roadside attractions. Crafted from hand-mixed cement over a metal frame, this 80-foot-long, marine mammal once served as a swimming hole for the Davis family. While you can’t take a dip anymore, you can still wander through its open mouth to the tip of its tail and strike a pose with this legendary roadside attraction. Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch ORO GRANDE, CA – JUNE 15: Although collectors of bottles and other items found in the desert have all but gone by the wayside, Elmer Long carries on the tradition with his continual creation of a forest of ?bottle trees? on old Route 66 on June 15, 2007 near Oro Grande, California. Route 66 opened in 1926 stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles and became a western migration route for people looking for work during the great depression of the 1930’s or to escape the Dust Bowl disaster. Later it offered vacation getaways and driving adventures until 1985 when it was decommissioned as a federal highway. Due to neglect and commercial development Route 66, the first highway to connect the Midwest with the West Coast, has recently been added to the biennially compiled list of the world’s most endangered landmarks by the World Monuments Fund and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s yearly list of the 11 most endangered historic places in America. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Along the California stretch of Route 66 in Oro Grande, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch is a whimsical forest of glass and steel. This unique roadside art installation features over 200 bottle trees – metal poles adorned with colorful glass bottles that catch the sunlight and clink in the wind. Each tree is topped with eclectic items like vintage road signs, bicycle wheels and typewriters, creating a one-of-a-kind desert spectacle. From sunrise to sunset, visitors are invited to wander through this kaleidoscope of light and color. Larger-than-life attractions Route 66 is home to some of the world’s quirkiest, largest roadside attractions, each adding a supersized dose of quirky charm to the journey. In Lincoln, Ill., the World’s Largest Covered Wagon stands 24 feet tall with an oversized Abraham Lincoln reading a book in the driver’s seat. In Collinsville, Ill., the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle rises 170 feet above the town, where it earned a cameo in a “Twilight” movie. In Sapulpa, Okla., the World’s Tallest Gas Pump is 66 feet high. In Arcadia, Okla., a 66-foot-tall soda bottle towers over Pops, a perfect pitstop for fuel, food and fizz. Cadillac Ranch Beneath the endless Texas sky, two unique art installations transform rusted relics into ever-changing works of art, with help from Route 66 travelers. Just west of Amarillo, Cadillac Ranch features a row of 10 classic Cadillacs planted nose-down in a field. Since its creation in 1974 by the avant-garde art collective Ant Farm, visitors have turned this lineup of half-buried cars into a dynamic, evolving mural, layering spray-painted tags, messages and designs onto its sunbaked surfaces. Route 66 neon parks As the neon glow along Route 66 fades, efforts are underway to keep this luminous piece of the Mother Road’s history alive. Along Route 66 in Illinois, two electrifying stops celebrate this glowing past. The Legends Neon Park at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield showcases recreations and restorations of signs from long-lost Route 66 businesses like the Chain of Rocks Motel. Just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park in Granite City features beautifully restored neon masterpieces alongside a love lock Chain of Rocks Bridge model. Standin’ on the Corner Park In Winslow, Ariz., Standin’ on the Corner Park pays tribute to the Eagles’ classic hit “Take It Easy.” A life-sized bronze statue of the song’s protagonist stands at the corner, resting a guitar on his right foot. Behind him, a mural features a window reflection of a red flatbed Ford – permanently parked at the curb – paying tribute to the famous lyric. Greetings from Murals along Route 66 From Chicago to Santa Monica, the Mother Road is lined with hundreds of colorful murals, but few capture the spirit of the journey quite like the “Greetings From” series. Designed in the style of vintage postcards, these vibrant murals celebrate the character of Route 66 towns, blending local landmarks, history and nostalgia into a single striking image. A car drives beside a Route 66 highgway mural in the downtown district of Albuqurque, New Mexico on October 1, 2018. The iconic American highway runs through the city on its 2,448 mile (3,940km) journey from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP) (Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images) In Litchfield, Ill., the mural highlights Route 66 landmarks like the Ariston Café. In St. Louis, another installment pays tribute to the city’s location along Route 66, featuring a view of the city’s skyline at dusk. As you make your way toward the Santa Monica Pier, you’ll find more greetings from murals in Cuba, Mo.; Galena, Kan.; Pasadena, Calif. and beyond. Red Oak II Just northeast of Carthage, Mo., lies Red Oak II, a village nostalgically recreated by artist Lowell Davis, often called the Norman Rockwell of Rural Art. In the late 1980s, David began resurrecting the essence of his childhood hometown by relocating and restoring buildings from Red Oak and neighboring areas to his farm, transforming a former cornfield into an homage to early 20th-century rural life. ​ Visitors to Red Oak II can get a taste of 1930 Americana with a general store, a one-room schoolhouse, a town hall and a Phillips 66 gas station. Several of the structures have a personal connection to Davis. The blacksmith shop belonged to his great-grandfather and his father’s general store, where the artist learned to sculpt and paint. Beyond the architecture, the town is adorned with sculptures and artworks, all echoing Davis’s unique style and his affection for rural life. The ultimate outdoor art gallery These unique sights capture the quirky charm of the Mother Road, inviting road trippers to stop, snap a photo and experience the artistry woven into America’s most iconic highway. Whether it’s your first trip down Route 66 or your 10th, the surprises along the way make every journey a work of art. Sage Scott was bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time. Now settled in America’s Heartland, Sage is a travel writer, world wanderer and photographer whose favorite color is golden hour. Follow her adventures at Everyday Wanderer. ...read more read less