Route 66 Interpretive Center in Edwardsville sets grand opening for June 9

The forthcoming Route 66 Interpretive Center, housed in a former gas station in Edwardsville, Illinois, will hold its grand opening on June 9.

According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the center will be open from Friday through Sunday after it opens.

The building is the former West End Service Station at the corner of West and St. Louis streets (aka Route 66) until the road was bypassed in 1965. It also served as a dental office after its run as a gas station ended.

Great Rivers and Routes about a year ago received a state grant of $460,000 to help the city renovate the building. It was part of $4 million in grants for various Route 66 projects before the highway’s centennial in 2026.

According to Route66Chick.com, the station initially was established by Henry Springer Jr. as a Texaco in 1927 — one year after U.S. 66 was federally certified.

In the late 1930s, the gas station was rebuilt and turned into a Mobil while Route 66 was undergoing reconstruction, as well.

The grand opening is part of several days of Route 66-related activities in Edwardsville, including musical “Get Your Kicks!” on June 8 at the Wildey Theatre, a free showing of the Route 66-inspired animated film “Cars” at Leclaire Park on June 9, the Route 66 Festival in City Park on June 10, and a Route 66 road-trip story competition at the Edwardsville Public Library on June 11.

(Image of the West End Service Station in 2021 via Loopnet.com)