ATLANTA, Ill. (WAND) — The American Giants Museum is home to a collection of restored fiberglass figures dating to the early 1960s, drawing visitors from across the globe to a stretch of historic Route 66.
The collection includes a Muffler Man, a Phillips 66 Cowboy and Bob's Big Boys, among others. Museum owner and operator Lee Woods said all of the figures have been restored.
"The most significant one we have is our Texaco Big Friend," Woods said. "He's out there and he's pretty much our mascot for the building. He came from Arizona and found it in, I think it was a dump site."
Woods said the museum attracts visitors from the United Kingdom, Italy and other countries, many of whom cite the fiberglass giants as a primary reason for their trip.
"That's the main thing, the reason people from the UK come over here is because of this," Woods said. "People from Italy, the UK, all sorts of places come over here, and I think I ask them more questions than they ask me."
Woods said Route 66's 100th anniversary is evidence the corridor is not fading. He noted that several businesses along the route have opened in recent years.
"If you came here five years ago, this place wasn't here, the place across the street wasn't here, and it's like that up and down the whole Route 66," Woods said. "So they say Route 66 was dying, but there ain't no way."
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