The Logan County Tourism Bureau announced in a news release it is beginning the process of taking over ownership of The Mill Museum along Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois.
The bureau put out this brief release Friday:
At the January Logan County Tourism Bureau board meeting members voted to own and manage the Mill Museum on Route 66 in Lincoln, IL. We are in the beginning stages of obtaining ownership of this original Route 66 structure. We believe this property transfer will enhance the Route 66 experience within Logan County leading into the centennial anniversary in 2026.
The Mill opened as a sandwich stand on original Route 66 in 1929. It later became a favorite and somewhat wild and crazy bar and restaurant after WW2, and then closed in 1994. The Mill has now been restored as a Route 66 Museum that displays artifacts from The Mill, Tropics Restaurant, The Pigs Hip and much more.
The Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County, a federally recognized nonprofit organization, currently owns The Mill Museum. The foundation officially stated its support for the planned transfer:
In an email, Geoff Ladd, who saved The Mill from the wrecking ball more than a decade ago, wrote to Route 66 News:
“I fully support this transition, and this is great news for the longevity of The Mill. Like many small non-profit groups, it gets harder every year to get the volunteers needed to get all the work done, which is what the current foundation that operates The Mill was facing. The Logan County Tourism Bureau is in the best position to keep the Mill humming along as we approach the Route 66 Centennial in 2026. Morgan Gleason, who is the Bureau’s executive director, has worked very hard to make this transition happen and deserves great credit for doing so. I want to thank all the volunteers and donors who helped us save The Mill over the years! I will continue to help volunteer at The Mill including as a greeter, event planner and one of the volunteer curators of the museum’s impressive collection – and also with assisting in the transition.”
The Mill, which featured a Dutch-inspired design and a turning windmill, opened as a restaurant on U.S. 66 in 1929. The Mill is a member of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. It closed in 1994, deteriorated and was slated for demolition until Ladd stepped in and helped reopen it in 2017 after years of fundraising and volunteer labor.
The Mill Museum sits at 738 S. Washington (old Route 66) in Lincoln. For more information, call (217) 671-3790 or visit it on Facebook.
(Image of The Mill in Lincoln, Illinois, on its reopening day in 2017 by Ron Ferguson via Facebook)
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