Fun Fact Friday – Illinois Roadside Landmarks

June 8, 2012 11:28 am CT

Each state in the U.S. has a list of roadside landmarks which give tourists lasting road trip memories. From world records to a fast food museum, there’s no lack of fun and quirky places to visit on a summer road trip across Illinois.

If world records are your thing, make sure to visit Collinsville, Ill., home of the world’s largest catsup bottle. This roadside attraction stands 170 feet tall and has its own preservation group.

Do you believe in dragons? In the small town of Vandalia, a fire-breathing dragon waits for tourists to drop a coin into the 35-foot beast; then it unleashes a loud roar and a fireball!

Illinois is also home to a museum replicating the very first McDonald’s restaurant. Located west of Chicago in Des Plaines, Ill., the museum was built according to the original blueprints with a few modifications to accommodate visitors.

What landmarks have you discovered across the Midwest?