Gemini Giant sells at auction for $275,000, will stay in Wilmington

The landmark Gemini Giant fiberglass statue at the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, was sold at auction Wednesday for $275,000, and the mayor announced it will remain in town at a different location. Grafe Auctions didn't reveal the buyer, citing its privacy policy. However, the City of Wilmington hours later revealed in … Continue reading Gemini Giant sells at auction for $275,000, will stay in Wilmington

Launching Pad’s owner litters contents from restaurant’s interior onto parking lot

The owner of the closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, scattered items from the interior of her Route 66 restaurant onto its parking lot, prompting two citations from local police The Joliet Patch reported that Holly Barker on Tuesday broke bottles of Route 66 root beer and tossed equipment and other items from the … Continue reading Launching Pad’s owner litters contents from restaurant’s interior onto parking lot

Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant

The Joliet Area Historical Museum is considering the acquisition of the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant -- best known for its unique, 28-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue -- in nearby Wilmington, Illinois. The Herald-News published the story Saturday less than a week after the Launching Pad was listed for $1.4 million on the Crexi commercial … Continue reading Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant

Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen

The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Illinois, recently acquired space that housed the world's first Dairy Queen restaurant. That first DQ, which opened in 1940, was in a brick, two-story building at 501 N. Chicago St., though the building itself dates to the 1890s. Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, talked to the Joliet … Continue reading Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen

Joliet history museum to open Slovenian grocery store museum on Sunday

The Joliet Area Historical Museum on Sunday will open the circa-1920s Planinsek Grocery and Meat Market in Joliet, Illinois, as a house museum. The market at 1314 Elizabeth St. (map here) will have free admission that day. After that, the Planinsek Grocery will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday until … Continue reading Joliet history museum to open Slovenian grocery store museum on Sunday

Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi to perform next month at Old Joliet Prison

Dan Aykroyd and James Belushi will perform at the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois, on Aug. 19 as part of an elaborate Blues Brothers Con at the historic site. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Joliet Area Historical Museum, reported The Herald-News. “He [Dan Aykroyd] made a significant donation of his time to … Continue reading Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi to perform next month at Old Joliet Prison

Route 66 campaign, Joliet Area Historical Museum win Illinois tourism awards

The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau earlier this month won an Illinois Excellence in Tourism award for Best International Marketing for its Route 66 campaign. The extensive Route 66 section of its website can be found here. Great Rivers and Routes Tourism concentrates on attractions in southwest Illinois. Great Rivers and Routes was honored … Continue reading Route 66 campaign, Joliet Area Historical Museum win Illinois tourism awards

Route 66 selfie station added to Joliet Area Historical Museum

The city of Joliet, Illinois, recently added a Route 66-themed selfie station for travelers at the entrance of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. According to the Joliet Patch, the station is a collaboration between the museum, the Joliet City Center Partnership and the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau. Museum director Greg Peerbolte told Joliet … Continue reading Route 66 selfie station added to Joliet Area Historical Museum

Joliet history museum plans to re-create a Slovenian grocery from 1929

The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Illinois, plans to make a re-creation of a 1929 Slovenian corner grocery store that operated in town until the 1990s. According to The Herald-News, the Planinsek Meat and Grocery Store has sat unoccupied for at least 20 years at the southeast corner of Elizabeth and Russell streets (map … Continue reading Joliet history museum plans to re-create a Slovenian grocery from 1929

Old Joliet Prison draws 14,000 visitors since opening in August 2018

The Old Joliet Prison has drawn a total of 14,181 visitors for tours and events since opening to the public in August 2018, according to the Joliet Historical Museum. The 19th-century prison, known officially as the former Joliet Correctional Center, also generated $407,654 in revenue, a report in The Herald-News stated. The net revenue of … Continue reading Old Joliet Prison draws 14,000 visitors since opening in August 2018