The Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space in Springfield, Illinois, is featuring the work of the late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire in an exhibit through mid-December 2026.
The gallery at 623 E. Adams St. is open from noon to 6 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
The exhibition will end on Dec. 19, 2026.
NPR Illinois reported:
“This exhibition wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible partnership of The Pharmacy Art Gallery & Space and the Waldmire Family. Their passion and dedication to honoring Bob’s legacy is truly inspiring. We’re deeply grateful to work together in celebrating his artistry and the rich history of Route 66.” Scott Dahl, Director, Visit Springfield.
“Springfield isn’t just where Bob Waldmire was born—it’s where his journey as a Route 66 legend began. Having THE iconic Bob Waldmire as one of our own is something truly special. His legacy is deeply intertwined with the history of Route 66, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate the place that helped shape his extraordinary life.” Darrin Thurman, Tourism Manager, Visit Springfield.
The Springfield State Journal-Register recently published photos from the exhibit’s opening, including of Bob’s brother Buz.
We went to the gallery a few days ago. It contained a short film of Waldmire when he was dying of cancer, memorabilia that includes his solar-powered oven and his inking pens, plus artwork from throughout his career. It was even better than I thought it would be.
The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac also has preserved a former school bus and Volkswagen minibus that Waldmire traveled and lived in for years.
A self-avowed hippie who also was the unofficial inspiration for Fillmore in the movie “Cars,” Waldmire died in December 2009 of abdominal cancer. He was 64.
His detailed pen-and-ink artwork, which resembles Robert Crumb‘s, of Route 66 locations hangs in many homes across the globe.
Waldmire traveled Route 66 for more than three decades. He gained international attention when he owned the Hackberry General Store in Hackberry, Arizona, for five years. He eventually sold the store, which is still operating, and built a winter home in the mountains of southern Arizona.
His celebrity continued to grow, culminating in his winning the prestigious John Steinbeck Award at the Steinbeck Awards Dinner in 2004.
Waldmire’s link to Route 66 was multi-tiered. His father founded the Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant in Springfield, Illinois, a Route 66 legend in its own right.
(Image of Bob Waldmire in 2006 by cobalt123 via Flickr)