The Lexington Lights: The Neon Sign on 66

Lexington in Lights: A Route 66 Landmark

In the early 1920s, Lexington, Illinois found itself on the cusp of transformation. With the rise of automobile travel and the construction of Route 4 (what would become Route 66) Lexingtonians envisioned a future shaped by traffic and opportunity. In a 1922 editorial, the Unit Journal captured the town's spirit: “There are some big things and many little things that can be done... which will bring favorable and lasting impressions.” Among these was a call for a grand archway greeting visitors with “Welcome” and bidding them farewell with “Goodbye—Come Again.”

Though this early vision was never realized, the dream lingered.

It wasn’t until 25 years later, in 1946, on the brink of a new postwar world, that the Lexington Community Club took the initiative to create a unique sign to welcome travelers in Lexington. With funding from local pledges, they commissioned a striking neon sign: 9.5 feet long and 18 inches tall, glowing with civic pride. It was erected at the corner of Route 66 and Main Street, a beacon for travelers and a symbol of Lexington’s optimism.

The neon sign became a familiar landmark until Route 66 was eventually decommissioned as traffic on Route 66 diminished. The story of the sign echoed that of many local businesses, which were impacted as traffic was diverted away from Main Street. The sign fell into disrepair and sat by the roadside as a relic of past prosperity, becoming an antique in a world changing quickly. But as the 21st century began, the city’s restoration was underway. New businesses made their way to town, and new traffic and new residents began to make their mark on Lexington. Through the city's efforts, the neon sign was restored, rekindling the warm glow of that postwar dream.

Today, the neon sign is stands at the corner of Main Street and Route 66 again. As the inspiration for the city’s current visual identity/logo, the neon sign is finding a second life on the streets, online, and throughout Lexington