A Journey Through Pop Culture on Illinois's Route 66

Illinois

September 2025

The Gemini Giant, Another Stop on Route 66

We continued our Route 66 adventure, returning to Wilmington, Illinois, where we were greeted by the Gemini Giant, a towering fiberglass “Muffler Man” dressed in a space helmet and holding a rocket ship.

The statue was built for The Launching Pad restaurant in 1965, its name inspired by the Gemini space program. It quickly became a treasured stop for travelers on Route 66. After the restaurant closed, the Joliet Area Historical Museum acquired the statue to ensure its preservation and moved it to its new permanent home in Wilmington’s South Island Park.

Joliet, Where Route 66 Meets The Blues Brothers

In Joliet, the Mother Road revealed more pop culture treasures: the grand Rialto Square Theatre, the Joliet Area Historical Museum, and the whimsical Rich & Creamy Ice Cream stand.

Since its 1926 construction, the theater has often been referred to as the “Jewel of Joliet.” The museum is housed in a former church and features a “Route 66 Experience” exhibit.

Joliet, Where Route 66 Meets The Blues Brothers

The classic ice cream stand has statues of the Blues Brothers dancing on the roof, a playful nod to Joliet’s ongoing fascination with this film. That connection runs deep: the movie’s opening scene was filmed at Joliet Prison, where “Joliet” Jake Blues was released, giving the character his name. With this Hollywood history in mind, and the Brothers looking down from above, I couldn’t resist buying and enjoying a classic ice cream cone before heading back home.