| Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum FREE! (Donations Welcome) 110 W. Howard Street 815-844-IL66 or 815-844-5657 or 815-844-6937 Hours: Monday through Friday 11 am to 3 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Sunday By appt. only Artifacts of Hall of Fame Members Route 66 State Farm Arch Travel the highway by visiting Route 66 towns on our flip-rack library. PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE!!! *Route 66 Items may be brought in for donation or loan on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 noon* Livingston County War Museum and Education Center (next to the Route 66 museum) FREE! Donations gladly accepted. A fascinating look at the lives of soldiers who served our country. Memorabilia from all wars our country was involved in. An elevator has been installed and is now available for handicapped visitors. |
| Three swinging bridges over the Vermilion River! Bridge 1 (looking east from the Mill Street bridge) - connects Riverview Drive and Play Park. It was built in July 1898 by Joliet Bridge Company with an iron structure, 190 feet long and 4 feet wide and supported by cables swung from masonry piers. The current bridge is a wooden structure. Bridge 2 (around the bend to the east) - connect the Play Park and Chautauqua Park - Eden M. Johnson Memorial circa 1926. Bridge 3 (Pictured) (looking west from the Mill Street Bridge) - connects the south side and Riverside-Humiston Park. It was built in connection with the adjoining park, circa 1978: Illinois Contractors, Inc. |
| The Yost House Museum Located at 298 West Water Street is a three - story, wood framed structure built for Z.F. Yost, a Pontiac attorney. Begun in 1898, the Queen Ann-style house rests on the bank of the Vermilion River, providing a clear view of the river below and behind the house. Visitors enjoy the same scenery today, filtered through the many trees and shrubs which offer a haven for visiting songbirds and waterfowl. It is significant that the Twenty-First Century has made little impact on the structure, inside or out. Here, nearly all the Yost family possessions remain, some which date back to the 1850's reminding visitors of the rich and varied cultural interests of its inhabitants. The house is owned by the City of Pontiac, funded by the J. Paul Yost Trust and managed by the Livingston County Historical Society. Open by appointment, 815-844-5847. |
| The Jones House 314 East Madison Street A Gothic Revival brick house built in 1858. It is named for Henry C. Jones, founder of the Pontiac Ice & Fuel Company, and is the oldest brick home in Pontiac. It is maintained by the Livingston County Historical Society and is open by appointment. 815-842-3457. |
| Old City Hall Antique & Gift Shoppes 321 N. Main St. Pontiac, IL Closed Monday; Tue – Friday 10AM – 5PM; Saturday 10AM – 4PM; Sunday noon – 4PM 815-842-1343 |
| Historic Pontiac Courthouse and county offices. The courthouse is the gem of our downtown square which is flanked by great shops and eateries. |
| Contact Webmaster. |
| The Jamison House (circa 1890), located at 209 E. Howard St. was recently refurbished and is now Three Roses Bed & Breakfast. Free tours by appointment. |
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| Visit all the towns along the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor year round. Contact Ellie Alexander for Pontiac information. 815-844-5847 or 800-835-2055 |
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| Each summer, The Vermillion Players Inc., an amateur theatre troupe based in Pontiac, and which relies upon the talent throughout all of Livingston County, has been providing outstanding live theatre to Pontiac and surrounding communities for more than 40 years. |
| 15th Annual Bluegrass Festival Sept 26 – 28, 2008 at Threshermen's Park. Nine groups to be performing. Check website link above for more information. |
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| Annual Threshermens' Reunion 60th Annual Show will be August 28 - September 1, 2008. Check website link above for more information. |
| Take a walk back in time and visit historic downtown Pontiac. Click here to see some of our wonderful shopping and dining opportunities. |
| Pontiac Tourism along with Chicago Kite, Illinois Kite Enthusiast Club and Sparling Entertainment are working together to bring the third annual Pontiac Kite Festival to town! The festival will be held May 30th- May 31st 2009 at the Pontiac Rec Plex located at 2104 Old Airport Road, Pontiac from 10 - 5 PM daily. This familyoriented event features a gigantic purple octopus, a huge gecko and many other large single-line and quad-line kites. Some of the state's best kitefliers, and national champion winners will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate their skills. There is plenty of space for you to fly your own kite - Bring a kite, or buy a kite from Chicagokite/Kite Harbor Shop, who will be on site. Be sure to pack up your chair and be ready to sit back and enjoy watching the sky fill with colorful kites! For more information contact Pontiac Tourism 800-835-2055 or 815-844-5847 |
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| A new exhibit at the Route 66 Museum Complex in Pontiac features the photography of Michael Campanelli. Michael's photographs were taken along the entire stretch of Route 66, from California to Illinois. If you can't come to Pontiac to see Michael's photography, visit Michael's web site. The exhibit is housed in the old jail in the Old City Hall Building. Click here to see photos of Michael's Gallery. |
| Humiston Woods Nature Center is open every day of the year and is just 5 miles north of Pontiac. The park has 5 miles of trails through the 300 acres of woods. Choice of primitive trail or The Fox Trail for those who need sure footing and/or a hard surface for wheel chairs. Humiston Woods is the only nature center in Illinois that features wheelchair accessibility. The park boasts 30 types of trees. Watch wildlife scamper about, gaze over the 15 acres of prairie meadow east of the woods. The meadow has been carefully restored to the condition the early settlers found it. Take a step back in time. Humiston Woods Nature Center: where you can hike in the summer, spring and fall and ski in the winter. A great location for a family reunion or wedding. Ed Lipinski PO Box 73 Pontiac, IL 61764 815-844-5831 |
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Dargon Park Sculptures
Madison & Fountain
Large metal sculptures entitled “All Things Change and We
Change with Them” depict the changes that humans experience
while growing. Barry Tinsley, sculptor and artist, completed the
design, construction, and erection of the figures in 1998. 815-
844-7350.
Illinois State Police District 6 Headquarters (gun-shaped)
Route 66
Built in 1941, the headquarters was inducted into the Route 66
Hall of fame in 2000. The building is constructed in the shape of
a pistol and served as the base for state troopers who patrolled
roads from Dwight to McLean. It was vacated in 2004 when a
new state police headquarters was built nearby.
Madison & Fountain
Large metal sculptures entitled “All Things Change and We
Change with Them” depict the changes that humans experience
while growing. Barry Tinsley, sculptor and artist, completed the
design, construction, and erection of the figures in 1998. 815-
844-7350.
Illinois State Police District 6 Headquarters (gun-shaped)
Route 66
Built in 1941, the headquarters was inducted into the Route 66
Hall of fame in 2000. The building is constructed in the shape of
a pistol and served as the base for state troopers who patrolled
roads from Dwight to McLean. It was vacated in 2004 when a
new state police headquarters was built nearby.