The quirky public art pieces along Route 66 are part time capsule, part creative canvas.
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.
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.
