Flash back in time: American Giant’s Museum officially opens this weekend in Atlanta

The museum officially opens to the public this weekend. (Photo courtesy: Atlanta Illinois Tourism/Facebook)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Years in the making, the American Giant’s Museum officially opens this weekend in rural Logan County.

The museum offers an array of collections, from old Texaco gas pumps to historic artifacts of historic Route 66.

For Scott McCoy, the Director of Tourism for Atlanta, the new museum also offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“American Giants museum was created and designed to look like an old 1960’s Texaco gas station,” Scott McCoy, Director of Tourism for Atlanta, said on WJBC’s Afternoon Show. “Some people think it’s actually an old gas station, (but) it isn’t, it’s all brand new construction.

Scott McCoy, the Director of Tourism for Atlanta, visited WJBC’s Afternoon Show, which airs weekdays from 4 – 6 p.m. (Photo courtesy: Scott McCoy)

But it was designed that way because of the big friend. And the big friend is going to sit on the corner. There are only six in existence in the world, and we have one of them, and it’s fully restored.”

Over the past year, Joel Baker, a leading expert on “American Giants,” restored the new Texaco big foot.

“We will have six on the property at the giant’s museum itself and then, of course, the Bunion (statue) across the street. So there will be seven, all within 200 yards of each other. It will be a world record,” McCoy added.

The museum offers an array of collections, from Texaco gas pumps to historic artifacts.

The museum’s staff plans a ceremony for Sunday at 12:30 p.m. featuring Joel Baker at the museum.

For those wanting to attend, the event is free and open to the public.

Blake Has can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…