The American Giants Museum‘s grand opening on May 24-26 will include the installation of two Muffler Men on the site in downtown Atlanta, Illinois.
According to a news release, featured activities on May 24 will include the arrival and installation of a 24-foot-tall Texaco Big Friend giant, one of only six surviving from the original 300 produced by International Fiberglass Company in the mid-1960s.
International Fiberglass, based in Venice, California, was the primary producer of these roadside giants, commonly called Muffler Men.
The Texaco Big Friend will be placed on the west side of the museum, next to Atlanta’s original 1926
alignment of Route 66.
An original Viking Carpet Giant also will be installed on May 24. It will stand on a concrete pad on the museum’s east side in the Route 66 Land of the Giants Rest Stop area, where its brother giant, the Snerd, already stands.
The public is invited to watch as these giants are placed (more specific times will be announced the week before).
A ceremonial ribbon cutting will take place at 2 p.m. May 26 at the museum. Food will be available in Atlanta’s Xenia Park across the street starting at noon. Options will include barbecue, grilled ribeye, pork chop and/or bratwurst, plus meals at Atlanta’s Country Aire Restaurant and Chubby’s Bar & Grill.
Missy’s Sweet Shop at the Palms Grill Cafen downtown also will feature “giant” specials made just for the occasion.
At 12:30 p.m., Joel Baker of American Giants LLC will be present for a question-and-answer session and offer several American Giant Museum-related souvenirs for purchase.
The American Giants Museum was designed and developed as a partnership between American Giants founder Baker and the Atlanta Betterment Fund organization. The project received assistance from the City of Atlanta, the Illinois Department of Tourism and the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Program.
Several years ago, Baker approached the Betterment Fund with the idea of creating an American Giants Museum. Baker’s collection of giants, sales materials, files, photos and other documents from International Fiberglass are the basis for its exhibits, giving Route 66 tourists a chance to see, learn about and interact with what will be the largest single collection of such giants anywhere along Route 66.
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