West End Service Station Will Host American Giants Museum Curator To Share Route 66 Insights

Bill Thomas is a man with big ideas and a passion for both Route 66 and Atlanta, the Illinois town he’s called home for more than four decades. His work to bring those big ideas to life makes him something of a giant among men, but he’s also a man among giants: American giants, to be exact.

Thomas is the curator of the American Giants Museum, a free museum located about 120 miles north of Edwardsville in Atlanta, IL. It features four of the giant statues that sprung up in the U.S. in the 1960s and beyond to greet and entice travelers to stop at restaurants, stores and more.

There are plans to add more of these giants – sometimes called 'Muffler Men' – to the museum in the future. Thomas will be at Edwardsville’s West End Service Station, the city’s free Route 66 visitor center, at 6:30PM Thursday, August 28, to share the story of how the American Giants Museum came to be, what it offers the public and how it’s drawn visitors and national attention to the tiny town of Atlanta, home to just more than 1,640 residents.

The public is invited to attend Thomas’ presentation; there’s no charge, but space is limited so reservations are required. Reserve a spot by emailing Carol Matteson of Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau.