Lexington, IL

Lexington was first laid out in 1836 and was named for the Massachusetts town of Revolutionary War fame. At one time it was part of the major thoroughfare between Chicago and Springfield. Old Route 4 went through Lexington, which later became part of Route 66.

Today, Lexington is a sleepy but scenic town of about 2,000 residents. It features a portion of the 1926 alignment of Route 66 with old billboards and Burma Shave signs it calls Memory Lane. Memory Lane is only about a mile long, and is in rough but passable condition. It's worth a few minutes to go down this skinny concrete slab to see what it was like to drive into Lexington in 1926. 

There is a restored 1940's neon "Lexington" sign along the west side Route 66 that points east to the business district. You'll fine a pleasant Downtown that is more residential than commercial. There is a Route 66 Park and a mural that tells Lexington's history.

Dat Bar, on Main Street Downtown, is a friendly local pub.

Lexington participates in the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor events each May.