Atlanta, Ill., is in Route 66 posters

The Route 66 town of Atlanta, Ill., is part of a Route 66 poster, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph.

The series of eight posters were designed by American impressionist artist R. Bolton Smith of Hilton Head Island, S.C. He captured the images of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California through a journey along the Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway last year with his wife, Joyce.

The Illinois poster features the Atlanta Library and Museum, which is on the National Register of Historical Places. Each poster depicts one location in each state along the highway.

“That poster just perfectly represents small-town America,” said John Weiss, a member of the Illinois Route 66 Association.

…

“I think Smith chose our library and museum as the feature for many reasons, one being because of the warm reception he got from everyone on his visit here,” said museum curator Lucille Pech, who met with Smith when he was on his tour of Route 66. “I think he was really made to feel welcome here. It had to be because of our hospitality.”

…

“If it wasn’t for Route 66, we may not have much tourism through our town at all,” she said.

The posters are $20 apiece. You can see each one with the links above. I think Atlanta was a good choice. To see why, check out its Web site.