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Key to the map on the previous page:
1. Steak-N-Shake - 1158 E. St. Louis.
2. Kentwood Arms - Now Kentwood Hall for MSU.
3. Shrine Mosque - 601 E. St. Louis.
4. Taylor’s Drive In - World famous steakburgers since
1947. Lunch only, 10:30 - 2:30 weekdays. 139 Memorial Plaza.
5. Discovery Center - 438 E. St. Louis.
6. Woodruff Building - NW Corner of Jefferson & St. Louis St.
7. Jewell Park - Home of the Ozark Country Jubilee SE Corner Jefferson & St. Louis Streets.
8. Former Site of the Colonial Hotel - SW Corner of Jefferson & St. Louis Street - the Birthplace of Route 66!
9. Gillioz Theater - 325 Park Central East.
10. Mosaic Wall Mural on West College Street.
11. College Street Cafe -1622 W. College Street, in operation since 1930’s.
12. Shamrock Court - West College Street.
13. Melinda Court - West College Street.
14. Route 66 Cafe - On West College Street on the site of the Rockwood Courts.
15. Former Site of Red’s Giant Hamburg - Home of the first
drive-up window for “fast food” takeout, immortalized on a
Ramones album cover.
16. Public Square – This was the site of the first gunfight west of the Mississippi between Wild Bill Hickok and Dave Tutt. It was also Wild Bill’s first documented gunfight. There are brass
markers in the sidewalk denoting where they stood as they shot at each other. The fight was over Tutt wearing a watch he’d won off Hickok in a poker match the night before. Hickok told Tutt if he saw him wearing the watch in public, he’d shoot him dead - and he did!
17. Danny’s Service Center (Gas Station) - on the West Bypass at Division Street.
18. EI Taco (part of Mexican Villa) -
316 W. Kearney - see their neon sign at night.
19. Baptist Bible College - 628 E. Kearney - Site of the trailer park where many of the Ozarks Country Jubilee entertainers lived while performing in the show.
20. Buckingham’s - 2415 N. Glenstone - Local BBQ Chain’s premier location.
21. Evangel University - Originally the site of the O’Reilly
General Army Hospital.
22. Rest Haven Motel - 2000 E. Kearney -
The neon sign for this motel was the inspiration for both the early “Holiday Inn” motel chain and the “Cozy Cone” motel sign in the Disney movie “Cars.”
23. AMMO - Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks - 2305 E. Kearney.
24. Holiday Drive-In - Site of former drive-in, on E. Kearney.
Further to the east is a series of rock cottages. This was originally the Lurvey Court Motel.
25. Wild Animal Safari - This is 14 miles from the Best Western Rail Haven on Route 66 at 124 Jungle Lane in Strafford, MO. This is the site of the former community of Holman, MO, which hosted a Tourist Camp in the heyday of Route 66.
26. Gay Parita - See an original rock garage, restored vehicles and a reproduction gas station that is operated as a 66 visitor’s center, about 25 miles west of Springfield.
Related attractions just off 66:
(a) Hammons Field, on Trafficway, one block north of
St. Louis & John Q. Hammons Parkway - State of the art home to the AA Cardinals from St. Louis!
(b) Jordan Valley Park - Sits on Trafficway to the west of
Hammons Field.
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(c) Jordan Valley Ice Park - Sits at the west end of Jordan Valley Park. Anyone for ice-skating? Hockey?
(d) Founder’s Park - Sits two blocks north of St. Louis and
Jefferson. Has artwork detailing the history of Springfield.
(e) History Museum - At Boonville and Chestnut Expressway, about 4 blocks north of the city square.
(f) Springfield Hot Glass Studio, one block south of 66 on
Campbell Avenue as you come out of the square. Owned by the former head glass blower at Silver-Dollar City, their art glass is
not to miss!
(g) Springfield Pottery Studios -Where you can make your own clay creations.
• The Moxie Theater is found in the downtown area and it
specializes in showing many unique art films.
• The Landers Theater - Another restored theater, home to
Springfield Little Theater.
• The Old City Calaboose (jail) - one block west and one block south of Route 66 as you come out of the city square - near the new Jordan Valley Parking Garage.
• Springfield Brewing Company - Showcases the city’s rich
brewing history and local manufacturer Paul Mueller Company’s microbrewery packages. And hey, the food and beverages aren’t bad either!
• Downtown - There are many specialty stores, restaurants, and bars in the downtown area in the blocks surrounding the city square. Not to miss - Ernie Bigg’s Piano Bar, Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, and Bijan’s (a known hangout of Springfieldian Brad Pitt when he’s visiting home).
• Hollywood Theaters - Also not to miss downtown is the
“Hollywood Theaters – College Station Stadium 14” recently
opened on College Street/Route 66 one block west of the City
Square. Listings for this state-of-the-art movie theater can be
found at gohollywood.com.
• The Train at Grant Beach Park - About 8 blocks off Route 66, but will worth visiting on summertime weekends!
• Fantastic Caverns - This is about 4 miles or so off Route 66 but it is the only cave in North America that you ride through
- well worth the visit!
• Dickerson Park Zoo - A world-class zoo that is a leader in
elephant breeding and raptor (birds of prey) rehabilitation.
It also has a state-of-the art animal nursery and a Missouri
animals exhibit and a train. This is about 5 blocks or so north of Route 66, at Kansas Expressway and Norton Road.
• Doling Park - Home of the Doling Skating Rink Museum
and cave - about 3 blocks off Route 66, north of Kearney St.
• Crystal Caverns - This is yet another cave to the north side of the city. It is about 3 miles north of Route 66, and is home to
several very rare cave animals.
Other Springfield area attractions:
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Askinosie Chocolates
Bass Pro Shops
Battlefield Mall
Candy House Chocolates
Grey-Campbell Homestead
Incredible Pizza
Japanese Stroll Gardens
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Nathaniel Boone Home
Nathaniel Greene Park
Oovvda Winery
Springfield Art Museum
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
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