Untitled - City of Joliet

Thank you for visiting our city and for learning about the long and
proud history of Joliet. As you see exhibits highlighting the City’s
past, please remember that Joliet remains a growing, diverse, and
vibrant community.
Thank you for visiting our city and supporting the Joliet Area
Historical Museum.
Mayor Bob O’Dekirk
Know Before You Go!
Crossroads of Mid-America:
Joliet was founded as an important center of transportation
from its earliest days when its namesake, Explorer Louis Joliet
along with Father Marquette traversed the Des Plaines River.
Later came the Illinois & Michigan (I&M) Canal, along with
Joliet’s first wave of permanent European settlers. The Illinois
Waterway remains an active shipping channel to this day.
Joliet quickly became a burgeoning railroad center that rivaled
even Chicago, including a number of local and commuter
trolley lines. With the advent of the automobile, America’s
first international highway, the Lincoln Highway, passed
through Joliet in 1913 as did its arguably more famous
counterpart, Route 66 in 1926. In the 1950s and 60s came the
Interstate Highways 55 and 80. Today, Joliet retains this
identity, even on its civic logo, and is home to Centerpoint, the
largest inland port in North America, an additional automobile
expressway (Interstate 355), as well as a soon-to-be-completed
Downtown multi-modal transportation center that will include
a new station building and platforms for train passengers, and
eventually include a new bus station.
City of Stone:
Joliet takes this nickname from Joliet Limestone: Joliet was
known around the region and country as a center of building
material in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Its
distinctive golden hue is the result of oxidation over time.
Thus, the darker the hue, the older the building. Its use
declined after the Great Chicago Fire demonstrated the stone
could be structurally compromised by high intensity flames. It
is not just found on distinctive buildings in Joliet. Surviving
examples of Joliet Limestone structures include the Rock
Island Arsenal, Illinois State Capitol Building, and one of the
most the most famous building in Illinois, the iconic Chicago
Water Tower
City of Steel:
For over a century, Joliet’s identity was heavily industrial. As
the nation rapidly expanded to the west, Joliet led the nation in
producing the metallic lifeblood of this new settlement:
Barbed wire, rails, horseshoes, nails, iron and steel, were all
made en masse in Joliet. Joliet was home to what was at one
time the nation’s second largest steel mill. Even the Joliet
Township High School’s Mascot –the “Steelmen”—is a nod to
this important historic legacy.
Artist’s rendering of Joliet multi-modal transportation center
City of Champions:
Though today associated with the
athletic accomplishments of area
public and parochial schools, Joliet
was originally given this title because
of its marching band program. The
Joliet Township High School
Marching Band Program was founded
by A.R. McAllister and within a
decade of its founding was declared
the “best band in all the land” by John
Phillip Sousa. The reputation of
Joliet’s marching band had a large part
to play in establishing marching band
programs as a way of life in schools
all across America.
The “Great Walls” of Joliet:
Throughout your journey in Downtown Joliet and beyond,
you will notice an abundance of public artwork, most
notably a variety of murals which reiterate the historic
richness and bright future of the City of Joliet. Produced by
the non-profit Group “Friends of Community Public Art” in
the early 2000s, the internationally-renowned murals,
sculptures, and mosaics are so plentiful that a full catalog
would require its own guidebook. Fortunately for the reader,
this has already been produced. Both brochures and
keepsake books that give detailed locations and explanations
of these community treasures are available at the Joliet Area
Historical Museum Store.
The Diocese of Joliet – “Catholic Capitol:” Though Joliet
is a city of great faith, big hearts,
and many diverse religions, the
Roman Catholic Church is
particularly well-established. In
1948, the Catholic Diocese of
Joliet (from the Greek,
“administration”, a term for a
district under the care of a bishop)
was established. In just over fifty
years, the diocese has moved from
rural to booming with 650,000
faithful calling the Diocese their
spiritual home today. Joliet is
home to one of only six Roman
Catholic Cathedrals in the State of
Illinois, St. Raymond Nonnatus. Owning a home in the
charming “cathedral area”, part of the National Registerlisted Upper Bluff Historic District, is a point of pride for
many Jolietans. While its demographics have changed,
Catholicism remains a legacy of life in Joliet, and its
remnants can also be seen in the many former ethnic
churches that remain in Downtown Joliet, some just blocks
apart from each other.
Joliet Drawbridges - I&M Canal/Illinois Waterway Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park
(YOU ARE HERE)
Expanding the Illinois Waterway, ca. 1940
Leaving the Joliet Area Historical Museum, travel one block
east on the famed Lincoln Highway/Cass Street to the Cass
Street Drawbridge. It is one of six movable bridges in the
Downtown area, many of which can be viewed from this
location. They are, from north to south: Ruby Street (1935),
Jackson Street (1933), Cass Street (1933), Jefferson Street
(1933), McDonough Street (1934), Joliet Railroad Lift Bridge
(1932) and Brandon Road (1972). From this vantage point, the
Illinois Waterway reflects (no pun intended) Joliet’s legacy as
a national transportation center and historic crossroads. The
City traces its founding to the construction of the Illinois &
Michigan Canal in the 1840s alongside the Des Plaines River,
generations before planes, trains, and automobiles carried
goods and people across the nation.
Cross the bridge (if it’s not
Bluff Street, ca. 1860
up!) for a stroll through
Billie Limacher
Bicentennial Park where
you can catch a “Concert on
the Hill” in the warmer
months. “Bi Park,” as its
known among locals, is the
site of the long-gone Bluff
Street, which straddled the
I&M Canal and acted as Joliet’s “exit” on the water highway. Bluff Street was also where an upstart
politician named Abraham Lincoln slept while campaigning for Lyman Trumbell here in 1856. The
distinctive “Victory Light” of the Joliet Catholic High School Building, formerly the site of St.
Patrick’s Church, is visible overhead on Broadway Street. To this day, the Waterway remains
an active shipping channel and on a daily basis, getting “caught by the bridges” remains an
acceptable excuse for arriving late in Joliet!
While you’re here:
Drink & Dine, Play & Stay at Harrah’s
Joliet. Enjoy Las Vegas amenities with
impressive views of Joliet’s Historic City
Center.
Just up the road: Proceed west along Western
Avenue to the Upper Bluff/Cathedral Area, a
National Register Historic District featuring a
cornucopia of imposing Victorian architecture.
Follow the path of the Lincoln Highway on
Plainfield Road to the University of St. Francis, grab
a red hot at Joe’s Hot Dogs, a famous “poorboy” at
nearby Merichka’s, or a home-cooked meal at
Thayer’s, while you wait for the bells to toll at the
towering Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus,
where you can view an exhibit of the history of the
Joliet Diocese.
Lincoln circa 1856. Resident Amelda Stephenson, a child at the time,
later recalled: "We were disgusted with his appearance, although our
parents, most who were staunch Republicans, awaited his coming
eagerly.”
Joliet Public Library– St. Mary Carmelite Church Christ Episcopal Church
On the Northeast corner of Ottawa & Clinton Streets, the Main Branch of the Joliet Public Library
stands invitingly. The statue of Explorer Louis Joliet, the City’s namesake, beckons passersby to
journey, explore and discover. This building would be impressive enough without knowledge it was
designed by the architect of the famed “White City” himself, Daniel H. Burnham. This is one of several
Burnham designed structures, though the only one to be
executed while the architect was living. Joliet would also
receive a City Plan from the firm, a little over a decade after
the internationally renowned “Plan of Chicago”. Looking to
the Southwest: Though vacant, the imposing Joliet
Limestone spire of St. Mary Carmelite Church rises as it has
for nearly a century and a half high above
Downtown.
Just behind St. Mary Carmelite is the site
of the former Christ Episcopal Church, a picturesque English Gothic-revival style
sanctuary which was tragically lost to fire in 2006. The church did enjoy a few
moments of national fame as the site of the wedding of “America’s Next Top Model”
Winner Adrienne Curry and Christopher Knight, (better known as “Peter Brady”) on
the reality television show, “My Very Brady Wedding.” Christ Episcopal Church was designed by local
architect Frank Shaver “F.S.” Allen. Fortunately, many local landmarks designed by Allen remain: In
Downtown, the Joliet Township High School and Barber Building, as well as the Patrick Haley
Mansion, now a popular venue for weddings and special events, and even Allen’s selfdesigned home, located just west of downtown.
Burnham & Bennett’s second
addition to Joliet Township
High School, circa 1920,
which adhered closely to F.S.
Allen’s original design. Note
the WW1 “Doughboy”
Monument to the far left of
the photo.
While you’re here:
Burnham at his home in
Evanston, circa 1903.
Enjoy classic favorites from breakfast to
burgers at the Route 66 Diner, a favorite of
both locals and travelers. It is located in the
recently remodeled New Hobbs Hotel
Building, itself a historic structure dating
back over a century. The Diner’s authenticity
led to it starring in an episode of the shortlived TV political drama “Boss”.
Rialto Square Theater - First National BankD’Arcy Building - Mode Theater
Literally and figuratively marking Joliet’s urban core is the “Jewel of Joliet,” the Rialto Square
Theater. It is among America’s, and some say the world’s, finest surviving examples of 1920s era
“Vaudeville Movie Palace”. The Building was completed just six months before Route 66 was
designated, and the two institutions have become synonymous with each other in Downtown
Joliet. The Theater, nearly demolished, but now fully restored has
hosted more legends than can be briefly named and remains the
pride of Joliet residents and visitors alike. Liberace himself was
reported to have quipped upon his entry: “Finally, a theater to
match my wardrobe!” Joliet’s own Lois Delander won the Miss
Illinois pageant on this stage just after the theater opened in May
of 1926. She would go on to be crowned the fifth Miss America
in 1927. Just south of the
Rialto is the neo-classical
First National Bank
Building, constructed by the
family of Joliet pioneer and historian George Woodruff. East
of Chicago Street, The stately D’Arcy Building stands on the
site of the Crystal Stairs Building, which as its name implies,
featured an illuminated glass stairway built over a waterfall
before being destroyed by fire.
Adaptive Reuse: In what is now known as “Van
Buren Plaza,” find The Mode Theater Building, in
the plaza immediately west of the D’Arcy
Building, went from a onetime den of sin to now
being “born again” as the St. Bonaventure Campus of the University of St. Francis. At
the Robert Plaster Center for Free Enterprise, students can utilize a business incubator,
while a mock courtroom serves those studying fields in the criminal justice system.
One of many awe-inspiring architectural features
of the Rialto: The 20 foot, 250 lamp chandelier
known as “The Duchess”
While you’re here: Peruse student artwork at the University
of St. Francis art gallery on the Van Buren frontage of the
Rialto Building. Grab a pint and share a story or song at
Chicago Street Pub, another downtown institution, said to be
Joliet’s oldest Irish Pub. Grab a fresh, flavorful bite at
newcomers Blue Taco or Venezuelan Bowl restaurants. Pick
up a handcrafted keepsake, and even watch as it’s created for
you before your very eyes at Regis Glass Art.
Lois Delander, circa 1927. Delander remains the only Miss
America to hold her title for multiple years, with the pageant
being suspended in the days of the Great Depression.
EMCO Building– Pioneer Building - Will County Courthouse
Modern architecture in Joliet is on full display at this intersection. The unapologetic midcentury
modern, glass-clad, Mies Van Der Rohe-esque EMCO Building rises as one of the tallest in
Downtown Joliet on the Northwest corner. It is currently
used as annex for the Will County Courthouse. To the east
rises the Pioneer Office Building with its distinctive sunken
courtyard.
In a few short years, the area to the southwest will be
teeming with even more modernity courtesy of a striking
addition to the skyline when the new Will County
Courthouse is constructed as soon as 2018. The current Will
County Courthouse, which will be retained for
office space, can be seen occupying the entire
block to the Southeast in all its Brutalism
grandeur. Perhaps outshined by its
predecessor, one will find this fourth Will
County Courthouse overwhelmingly disliked
by residents when surveyed, architecturally
speaking. The third courthouse, constructed in
1882 demolished in 1969, remains a beloved
structure almost a half century after its demise.
Its architect, John Crombie Cochrane, also
John Crombie Cochrane
designed the Illinois State Capitol Building - Though neither are actually there, the third and fifth
Will County Courthouses. Note the railroad gates to
constructed of Joliet Limestone which was
the right of the top image, before the many train lines
quarried by prisoners at the Illinois State Penitentiary, and crisscrossing Downtown (including through the
the Iowa State Capitol Building.
courthouse lawn) were elevated circa 1909-1911.
The demolition was undertaken in spite of much outcry from Jolietans at the time, even when
preservation was an emerging concept. This error appears to be partially rectified by a strong
local preservation movement that has successfully saved many buildings since, as well as a
visionary design for the new Courthouse. Relics of the Courthouse, including the friezes, part of
the clock tower face and wooden doors, have been preserved in various structures throughout
Joliet.
While you’re here: If you have a craving for the quick and familiar, a Subway restaurant lies
north on Jefferson Street opposite the Courthouse. View scale model paintings of the famed Joliet
Murals commissioned by the Friends of Community Public Art in Joliet City Hall.
Trivia: Though less so today, this area was
for decades known as “Spot Cash Corner”,
after a department store of the same name
that was constructed in the 1800s. It later
was home to the Boston Store in the heyday of Downtown Retail.
Will County Soldiers and Sailors Monument - Woodruff Building
Panorama of Downtown Joliet, 1914: Will County Courthouse,
Woodruff Building, and County Jail/Sherriff's Residence
Courtesy, Library of Congress
As you walk across the Courthouse “lawn,” you will notice the imposing Will County Soldiers and Sailor’s
Monument, dedicated to Civil War veterans, rise in front of you. The soldier atop the monument is said to bet
he likeness of Colonel Frederick Bartleson, Will County State’s Attorney and the first man to volunteer in
Joliet. Bartleson entered the service as a captain in the 20th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, along with
approximately 200 men from Joliet and Will County .The 20th fought at Fort Donelson in February 1862 and
at Shiloh in April of that same year. At Shiloh, Bartelson was wounded and lost an arm as a result.
Despite the use of one arm, after recuperating, he was placed in command of a new regiment
forming in August, 1862 in Joliet, comprised almost entirely of Will County volunteers, the
100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
The 100th Illinois fought throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. At the Battle of
Chickamauga, Bartleson was captured and held in the famous Libby Prison in Richmond .He
was paroled, and despite urgings from friends and family in Joliet, he rejoined his regiment for
Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. He was killed leading a skirmish line at Kennesaw Mountain,
Georgia on June 23, 1864. Though Bartleson’s remains lay in Oakwood Cemetery to the East,
his likeness stands watchful guard over Downtown.
William Le Baron Jenney
Linger a moment and view handsome building at the northeast corner of Chicago & Jefferson, the Woodruff
Building (also built by the aforementioned descendent of pioneer George Woodruff). The building, later
known as the Morris Building, is an early work of William LeBaron Jenney, who is credited as the “Father of
the Skyscraper” after designed Chicago’s Home Insurance Building in 1885
utilizing metal frame architecture which allowed cities like Chicago, and on a
smaller scale, Joliet to grow vertically.
With these words, Colonel Bartleson became the first volunteer in
Joliet to serve in the Civil War. Several of Bartleson’s personal
effects, as well as the regimental colors of the 100th Illinois Infantry,
are currently on display at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.
Joliet Union Station- St. Anthony’s Church - Silver Cross Field
Approaching the intersection of Jefferson of Scott Streets, it
is hard to ignore the stately Union Station Building. The
station was constructed in 1912 and designed by Architect
Jarvis Hunt. Hunt also built a much larger, though similarly
designed, Station in Kansas City during the same period.
In December of 1927, it is confirmed that Al Capone spent
“time” in Joliet, however not for the right reasons: Capone
was arrested on the platform, reportedly apprehended by the entire Joliet Police force at the time. He was
attempting to elude Chicago authorities waiting for him to return on the Southwest Chief from a vacation
to California. Jolietans sensed something was amiss when an ostentatious
bulletproof limousine carrying a number of Capone cohorts settled in near the
Courtesy, Chicago Tribune
station. Capone and his gang were arrested on charges of “gun-toting.” Capone
was reported by the Chicago Tribune to have paid the bail of cellmates in order
to obtain privacy. He later told the presiding judge, “I’ll never carry a gun
again... in Joliet.” After paying the meager fine with a $1,000 bill, Capone
asked that his change to a nearby Salvation Army Santa Claus, with orders to
“tell him Al Capone sent it.”
Looking north up Scott Street, the brick clad ethnic Italian St. Anthony’s
Church can be seen across the BMO Harris Bank pocket park. Despite the
Police Chief John Corcoran dismodern colonial revival appearance, the structure is one of the longest standing
plays firearms taken from the Capone gang, 1927
buildings in all of Downtown, originally built as a Baptist church in the 1850s.
Just south of the church was the site of the Chicago & Alton Depot. Abraham
Lincoln’s Funeral Train made of one its final stops here around Midnight on May 2, 1865 before
returning the remains of the martyred President to his beloved Springfield. Newspapers recounted the
somber late night vigil, attended by nearly the entire City population: "Guns were fired, church bells
tolled, and the multitude stood in reverential silence with uncovered
heads while the band played a solemn dirge," there were even reports of
a brilliant shooting star as the train disembarked.
Just up the Road: The beloved façade of the 1901 Joliet Township High School
will undoubtedly beckon you. Designed by the aforementioned F.S. Allen, the
building has undergone several additions as recent as 2016, all of which have
respected the original architecture. Joliet Junior College, America’s first public
community college began inside these
walls. A short walk down Richards Street
will take you past the site of the GerlachBarlow Factory, at one time the largest
supplier of calendars in the country, to the
Jacob Henry Estate, a cluster of historic
buildings now used to host weddings and
special events. known simply around
Joliet as “the Mansion.” The Henry
Mansion is a striking example of
Italianate home architecture of the gilded
age found in Joliet’s East Side Historic
District., listed on the National Register.
While you’re here:
Enjoy America’s pastime at Silver Cross
Field, where the Joliet Slammers offer
affordable, family-friendly baseball all
Summer long. You will be greeted by a
statue of Joliet native Jesse Barfield, star
of the Toronto Blue Jays. Hop one of
two Metra lines north to Chicago in less
than an hour, or take an Amtrak to all
points west at Joliet’ts state of the art
mutli-modal transportation center. Enjoy
an adult beverage at LGBT-friendly bar
Maneuvers.
Louis Joliet Hotel - Joliet Post Office
Heading north on Scott Street, the imposing Hotel Louis Joliet Building
on the southwest side of the intersection will command your attention.
The Hotel was constructed just after
the arrival of Route 66 in 1927, to
meet the increased demand to
accommodate automobile travelers. At
eight stories, it remains one of
Downtown Joliet’s tallest buildings.
The building has recently been
converted to residential apartments.
During a grueling last minute
campaign tour of collar county cities
days before the election of 1960,
which ultimately proved successful, Candidate John F. Kennedy was
able to find a brief respite here as he prepared for a speech and
automobile tour of the City. Thousands turned out to cheer the future
President to victory. The modern Executive Centre to the east houses
Will County offices, a tasteful remodel of the delightfully midcentury
modern Joliet Federal Bank Building. The 1903 Joliet Post Office is seen on the northeast corner.
Constructed by Federal Architect James Knox Taylor, it was Joliet’s lone post office for almost a
century until 1981, when the McDonough Street facility became Joliet’s central post office.
Auditorium Building - Two Rialto Square
Long before “mixed use” was a real estate buzzword, the 1899 Auditorium Building housed a unique
arrangement of the Universalist church and private business, including a pharmacy and jewelry store
under the same roof. Today, the historic character of the building is intact, inside and out. Most of
the building has been transitioned to upscale, loft-style condo units which retain architectural
features, notably the original stained glass. Looking to the northwest corner of the intersection, you
may think you are seeing double with the eastern façade of the Joliet Public Library. This 1990s
addition was painstakingly designed to match Daniel Burnham’s original 1903 design.
The former First National Bank Building rises six stories above the intersection. Now known simply
as “Two Rialto Square,” the building was modernized into professional offices in conjunction with
the restoration of the Rialto Theater in the early 1980s.
While you’re here: Experience “urbane” Joliet: The Auditorium Building’s
street level includes a clothing store, convenience shop, and the trendy local
“gastropub” Tin Roof, where you can enjoy a fresh, locally-sourced New
American meals alongside a handcrafted vintage cocktail. Procure a local piece
of fine art, or simply enroll in instructional courses at Gallery 7 in the Two
Rialto Square Building
Gallery 7
Loughran Building - L.F. Beach Store
This unassuming downtown intersection is
arguably the most historic road alignment in
America: The original paths of Route 66 and
Lincoln Highway. Historically, this area
served as the retail epicenter of Joliet for
decades, before major department stores
moved west to accommodate a rapidly
expanding Joliet. At the southwest corner rises
the L.F. Beach (later Kline’s) Department
Store, yet another building designed by the
architectural firm of Daniel H. Burnham. The stately Loughran Building, the site of a former comedy
club, currently awaits a tenant. Architecturally speaking, this intersection has changed very little from
its appearance at the time of Route 66’s inception circa 1926.
While you’re there: Enjoy a cup of Joe or light lunch at Jitters or
The Treehouse Café, while you while wait to rock the night away at
the Tree of Joliet rock venue. Take a home a treat to share with the
whole family from Cheesecakes by James. Browse for hidden
treasures at Kula Pawn Shop. Have a drink at Judge’s Bar, a nod to
the nearby legal activity at the Courthouse. Enjoy the authentic
historic ambience and Italian fare at Juliet’s Restaurant for a full-on
dining experience, or if
you prefer something
Juliet’s Tavern
quicker, grab some
“chunks & jojos” at local
favorite Chicken & Spice,
where you can observe the newest addition to Joliet’s
skyline, the Joliet Junior College City Center Campus
Building. Test your wizardry at Chicago Street Pinball
Arcade, and pick up the latest eyewear fashion at Cutler Eye
Care Center.
Trivia: The pronunciation of Joliet serious business:
City ordinance mandates the official pronunciation of
the city as “JOE-lee-et” (as opposed to the Chicagoan
“JOLLY-et”). Mispronunciation is punishable by a fine
to this day (seriously). The law dates back to the
1890s when Joliet and Chicago were locked into a
bitter feud over wastewater sent down the Des Plaines
River after flow of the Chicago River was reversed.
Presumably, the law was designed to identify and
ouster any interloping Chicagoans.
What’s in a name?
“Juliet” was the original name of the City of
Joliet. This was thought to be a corruption of
explorer Louis Joliet’s name, as opposed to
the Shakespearean protagonist. Codifying the
name to “Joliet” is credited to President
Martin Van Buren during a visit to the City
in 1842, stating his preference for the more
historically accurate spelling. Perhaps as a
token of gratitude, Van Buren Street in
Downtown in Joliet is named in his honor.
Slovenian Row - St. Joseph Church Slovenian Heritage Museum - First Dairy Queen Building
The twin spires of St. Joseph Church have kept watch over the area known as “Slovenian Row” on the north
end of Downtown for over a century. St. Joseph is one of the last bastions of Catholic Slovenian Culture in
America, along with nearby Slovenian Heritage Museum. Slovenian immigrants worked in unfathomable
conditions at the nearby steel mills or other heavy industry
of late nineteenth and early twentieth century, where they
would have still enjoyed a living far superior to their home
nation. Stern’s Big Store once rose in the triangular lot
where Chicago splits into Ottawa Street, boasting it was
“outside of the high rent district.” Years later, many native
Jolietans proudly claim Slovenian heritage. Perhaps one of
the most “American” brands began on Route 66 in the
midst of Slovenian Row. Looking northwest from St.
Joe’s, at an unassuming building at 501 North Chicago, is
where Sherb Noble opened the first Dairy Queen Store,
with its signature “soft serve,” in June of 1940. The rest,
as they say, is
history.
While you’re here visit the site of the
Joliet Iron and Steel Works, now an
interpretative trail, where you can view
the remains of what was once the
second largest steel mill in the United
States. The site is maintained by the
Forest Preserve District of Will County.
Every fourth Saturday of the month,
take in a traditional Slovenian Catholic
Mass at Historic St. Joseph Church. Directly across the street from the
Church is the Slovenian Heritage Museum, where you can find a wealth of
information about the Slovenian experience in Joliet, and across America.
Speaking of Slovenian traditions, nearby Stefanich’s Restaurant, offers fried
chicken that has been Joliet staple since 1933. Though it now serves a menu with
traditional Mexican fare, its distinctive sign and appearance remain. A popular
anecdote recounts an unrecognized Victor Borge being denied a larger table at a
dinner service crowded with Rialto patrons before a show. He was said to have
retorted good-naturedly, “But ma’am, I am the show!”
Trivia: The Tezak Family, originally engaged in
the floral and undertaking business in Slovenian
Row. In the early 1970s, the owner of the family
funeral parlor, Robert, purchased the rights to a
little known card game from Merle Robbins, an
Ohio barber. He set up the offices of
“International Games” to help market and
distribute the game in the back of the funeral
home. The name of the game, which has brought
many families together – or nearly tore them
apart - UNO!
Ottawa Street Methodist Church, Joliet Chamber of Commerce Building,
YMCA Building, Al Baskin Store
The atypically stout 1909 Ottawa Street Methodist Church has stood guard over the northeast corner of Cass
and Ottawa Street since 1909. In 2002, it took a on a new mission as the Joliet Area Historical Museum. A
modern visitor’s center was constructed to welcome visitors traversing Old Route 66 and the Museum houses
modern exhibits while still preserving some of the Church’s century old stained glass architectural elements.
Just west of the Museum is the Al Baskin Store, now home to Catholic Charities.
The Joliet Chamber of Commerce Building, just north of the Museum’s
Route 66 Visitor’s Center, was constructed by the firm of Daniel
Burnham in 1926, as was the Joliet YMCA Building across the street. The
building became part of a Sheraton Motor Lodge in the 1960s, when a
Midcentury hotel structure, was
added. Many Jolietans will remember
the building not as the home of the
Chamber, but as “D’Amico’s 214,”
the site of a restaurant and venue, The
Piccolo Playhouse, which featured
some of the most prominent acts of
the time on furlough from Chicago
performances, including Louis
Always colorful - The Sheraton Motor Lodge
Armstrong, throughout the 60s and
in Earl D'Amico's Day
70s. The site is now known as the
Joliet Junior College’s Renaissance Center (You’ll remember – JJC was
Earl D’Amico with Louis Armstrong
America’s first public community college). Generations of Jolietans have
almost universally attended functions and celebrations at the “Ren Center” and its Grand Ballroom, whose
appearance has changed little from the 1920s, for over three generations. Joliet Junior College’s
stately new City Center Campus Building brashly rises above the ninety year old structure,
acknowledging the importance of the College to the Joliet community and its growth, then and now.
The new building will, among other activities, help to support its internationally recognized culinary
program.
Joliet was an overnight home to a Lincoln, AND a
Ford: President Gerald R. Ford not only slept at the
Sheraton Motor Lodge while on a campaign
“whistle stop” tour (appropriately on an Amtrak
train dubbed the “Honest Abe”), he celebrated his
28th anniversary with First Lady Betty Ford here
during a grueling 10-day, 100 city campaign tour
shortly before the election of 1976, in which he was
ultimately bested by Jimmy Carter.
Trivia: The notion of Route 66 as a tourist attraction paid off when Paul McCartney
strolled into the Museum on a summer day in 2008 with his then-girlfriend Nancy
Chevell. Sir Paul was politely told to move his old Ford Bronco, lest he be towed. What
do you get the man who has everything? Just under an hour of anonymity. By all
accounts, he enjoyed his time at the Museum just being a tourist, and questioned
Museum staff as to the proper pronunciation of “root” or “rowt” 66. Out of respect for
the trip, described as McCarttney’s “lifelong dream,” he was not photographed at the
Museum, though he insisted on leaving an autograph.
Isle De Cache Museum - Lewis University,
Will County Historical Society - Gaylord Building
Illinois State Penitentiary - “Old Joliet Prison”
White Fence Farm - Rich & Creamy Ice Cream Stand
If you’re traversing Old Route 66, you may have already visited places like White
Fence Farm, Lewis University or the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Isle a
la Cache Museum. Heading South down Route 53/Broadway Street, enjoy a frozen
treat at the restored vintage “Rich & Creamy” ice cream stand and surrounding
Route 66 Park. A statue of NBA Hall of Famer, George Mikan, credited with
making the first “dunk” is nearby. The park was the site of a popular roller rink
owned by the Mikan family for many years.
One of Joliet’s most internationally famous sites is the former Illinois State
Penitentiary at Joliet, which still stands but is closed to the public. The prison was
built in 1858 by W.W. Boyington, credited as Chicago’s first architect, and designer
of the Chicago Water Tower. Perhaps its most famous inmate is fictional: John
Belushi’s beloved “Joliet Jake” in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers was “sprung”
from the Old Joliet Prison by his brother Elwood, played by Dan Aykroyd, in the
film's opening sequence. A small parking area with informational kiosks still allows
for photo ops. The prison is located north of Downtown on Collins Street.
Continuing north on Collins Street from the Prison is the quaint downtown of
Lockport. As it name implies, it was once a busy “port” during the days when the
I&M Canal provided goods to the area.
A beautiful Museum Campus
from repurposed Canal offices
include: The National Trust for
Isle a la Cache Museum (top) and the
stately Gaylord Building (bottom)
Historic Preservation’s Gaylord
Building, the Illinois
State Museum Lockport Gallery, and the Will County
Historical Museum and Research Center, located feet
from each other. You will also find there is no shortage
of dining and drinking options at nearby establishments
in Downtown Lockport.
Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet, 1931
Chicagoland Speedway & Route 66 Raceway
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie,
Gemini Giant
Heading to the south of Joliet on Route 53, the
pastoral, classic image of Route 66 begins to
reveal itself. Among the compelling attractions:
Chicagoland Speedway & Route 66 Raceway:
Joliet is arguable the NASCAR capital of the
north, when in mid-September fans pack the
immense Chicagoland Speedway. The complex
occasionally hosts large entertainers and festivals. More of a local favorite is the adjacent
Route 66 Raceway, which hosts Nitro Car, Drag
Racing, and even competitive snowmobiling.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: The Prairie occupies the site of the
former Joliet Arsenal, which during World War II and beyond produced
explosives. The site is now being fully restored to its state before
European settlement, including the reintroduction of bison.
Though the accompanying “Launch Pad” restaurant is closed, the
“Gemini Giant” is a worthy photo op, among other activities in
Wilmington. One of several historic “muffler men” along the Route.
Wherever you’re heading, however you’re
getting there, and whatever you may
discover, the City of Joliet wishes you safe
travels and thanks you for visiting!
Chicagoland Speedway on Race Day