The Route 66 Murals of Pontiac, Illinois: Mural City on the Mother Road

Pontiac’s Route 66 Murals: An Outdoor Gallery on the Mother Road

Of all the Route 66 towns in Illinois, Pontiac has arguably done the most creative and comprehensive job of decorating its streets with the story of both the Mother Road and its own remarkable community history. With more than 25 large outdoor murals spanning downtown — including the most photographed Route 66 image in the state — Pontiac has earned the title of Route 66’s “Mural City.” The murals celebrate everything from the Pontiac automobile brand and the town’s agricultural heritage to a 1972 VW Microbus that once belonged to legendary Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, Pontiac’s murals offer one of the most vivid and freely accessible tributes to the highway anywhere along its 2,448-mile length.

Where Are the Route 66 Murals in Pontiac?

Primary Mural (Route 66 Shield): 110 W Howard Street (rear of Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum), Pontiac, IL 61764

The murals are spread throughout downtown Pontiac, concentrated in the blocks around Howard Street, Mill Street, Madison Street, and Main Street. The Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum at 110 W. Howard Street distributes free Mural Guide maps. Red painted footprints on the downtown sidewalks provide a walking tour route. Most murals also have QR codes linking to audio narration.

The Route 66 Shield Mural: The Iconic Centerpiece

The largest, oldest, and most photographed of Pontiac’s murals is the Route 66 Shield Mural, painted in 2006 on the exterior back wall of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum by Pontiac’s own Diaz Sign Art. The massive shield — executed in the classic black, white, and black shield-within-shield Route 66 design — is set against a red background with the words “Pontiac, Illinois” displayed prominently.

What makes the photo opportunity truly special is the ground in front of it: the parking area is paved with original red bricks from the actual Route 66 alignment that once ran through Pontiac. Visitors can drive or walk their vehicles up in front of the mural and pose with their car parked on original Route 66 pavement, with the massive shield behind them. It is one of the definitive Route 66 photo moments in all of Illinois.

Mural at the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac, Illinois

The Walldog Murals: 150 Artists, 18 Murals, Four Days

In June 2009, Pontiac hosted a gathering of the Walldogs — an international group of professional sign painters and muralists who come together periodically to paint entire towns in collaborative mural marathons. More than 150 artists descended on Pontiac and produced 18 murals in just four days. The achievement was documented by a video crew and attracted national attention.

The Walldog murals celebrate the commercial, social, and political history of Pontiac across multiple eras: a 1900s ice cream parlor based on a local candy shop, a dairy farm scene with a steam-powered tractor, a tribute to Pontiac’s long-standing newspaper the Pontiac Sentinel, a railroad car celebrating the old PB&J streetcar line that ran between Pontiac and neighboring towns, and many more. Together they form an outdoor history museum of remarkable scope, each painting a window into a specific chapter of the town’s past.

Among the most beloved Walldog murals is a 66-foot-long map of Route 66 in Illinois — posthumously painted in honor of Bob Waldmire, the legendary Route 66 artist whose Volkswagen Microbus and school bus are now on display at the Hall of Fame & Museum inside.

The Bob Waldmire 66-Foot Route 66 Map Mural

Bob Waldmire (1945–2009) was one of Route 66’s most beloved figures — a wandering artist and cartographer who spent decades traveling the Mother Road in his orange 1972 VW Microbus, producing hand-drawn maps and illustrations that became iconic documents of the highway. His father co-invented the corn dog at the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield. Bob’s VW Microbus and school bus are now on permanent display at the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac, where they serve as perhaps the most evocative exhibits in the building.

After Waldmire’s death in 2009, his family and friends painted the 66-foot Route 66 map mural in his honor in downtown Pontiac. The mural replicates the style of his famous hand-drawn maps and serves as both a tribute and a navigational artwork — a Route 66 map made by the man who arguably knew the road better than anyone.

The 2026 Centennial Plaza

In preparation for Route 66’s 100th anniversary in 2026, Pontiac has developed a new Centennial Plaza behind the Museum Complex, adjacent to the iconic Route 66 Shield Mural and the Bob Waldmire VW bus. The plaza opened in early spring 2026 as a dedicated gathering space for centennial celebrations and provides additional context and commemoration of the Mother Road’s first century. Combined with the existing murals, museum, and Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum, it makes Pontiac’s downtown one of the most Route 66-rich experiences in all of Illinois.

Tips for Visiting the Pontiac Murals

Pick up a free Mural Guide at the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum (110 W. Howard St.) before starting your walking tour.
Follow the red painted footprints on the downtown sidewalks — they connect all 25+ murals in a logical walking sequence.
Scan the QR codes beside each mural for audio narration explaining the design and historical significance.
Combine with a visit to the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum next door and the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum two blocks away.
Allow 2–3 hours to do the full mural tour and museum visit justice — Pontiac consistently earns recognition as one of the top Route 66 stops in Illinois.

Final Thoughts on the Pontiac Route 66 Murals

Pontiac’s murals are Route 66 preservation through art — a way of telling the story of a community and a highway that goes beyond artifacts and signage and reaches directly into the visual imagination. The Route 66 Shield is the most photographed single image in Illinois Route 66 country, and the full walking tour around downtown Pontiac is one of the most rewarding free experiences on the entire Mother Road. If Illinois Route 66 is on your itinerary — and it absolutely should be — allow Pontiac more than a passing glance. It deserves an afternoon.