Joliet is a town full of history, Route 66 history! In addition to all the excitement and fun, we also got stuck here for longer than we planned - we got a flat tire and had limited help on our belt. See details on the page The Camper.
“The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66” is a dedicated cultural space in downtown Joliet that celebrates the massive impact Illinois artists have had on music history. Located in a historic three-story building at the intersection of Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway, it focuses on everything from the grit of Chicago blues to the stadium anthems of local rock legends.
Hall of Fame & Local Legends: The museum honors a wide range of artists with deep Illinois ties, including seminal bands like Cheap Trick, Styx, Chicago, and REO Speedwagon, alongside blues giants like Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy.
Memorabilia & Artifacts: You can explore a vast collection of stage costumes, vintage instruments, handwritten lyrics, and gold records. A notable highlight is the “Gigantar,” a massive 24-foot-tall guitar sculpture located at the site.
Interactive & Educational Features: The facility includes a “Music Lab” for hands-on learning, a radio station called “Road to Rock” that streams music from Illinois artists, and listening stations to dive into the state’s sonic history.
Route 66 Connection: As a designated “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ballot Museum,” it serves as a primary stop for travelers on the Mother Road, even offering official Route 66 passports in its gift shop.
We received a free pin and lots of booklets, posters, and brochures. Christine is the one sending the new 2025 Route 66 passports to Roman. She gave me several websites for the 100th anniversary celebration in Joliet.
An information hub of Route 66 centennial-related info in Joliet. It is also a museum of the history of Joliet.
We learned that Joliet, IL, has a lot of information and events related to the movie The Blues Brothers.
A replica of the Blues Brothers’ battered 1974 Dodge Monaco, complete with air raid siren on its roof, is mounted on a pole above the parking lot of the Route 66 Food N Fuel gas station.
The visitor center and the tours were closed on the day we visited.
We sensed the prison instilled a great pride in the people of Joliet. There will be a baseball match with a limited number of tickets that one employee at the Rock & Roll Museum told us she was looking forward to attending.
Opening in 1926, it was originally designed and operated as a vaudeville movie palace, but it now houses mainly musicals, plays, concerts, and stand-up comedy. It is also available for public and private functions. People can have weddings in the theatre.
Centennial Route 66 Tour: Introduction
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