Bob Waldmire: Artist and Map Maker
Bob Waldmire was an artist whose characteristically overcrowded drawings became unmistakable Route 66 symbols.
Waldmire had an early connection to Route 66 as the son of the owner of the Cozy Dog Drive- In in Springfield, Illinois. He spent much of his time wandering the country in his signature 1972 Volkswagen van, which is now located at the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Illinois, and was the inspiration behind the Fillmore van character in Pixar’ s Cars animated movie.
Waldmire sold his drawings while he wandered Route 66, and in 1992, he opened the Hackberry General Store in Hackberry, Arizona, as a Route 66 tourist information stop. He was an eccentric character who spent winters at his selfsufficient homestead in Arizona. He was also a vegetarian and an environmentalist who sought to capture the beauty of the American landscape, flora, and fauna in his Route 66 drawings.
In 2004, the National Historic Route 66 Federation awarded Waldmire the John Steinbeck Award for his preservation efforts of Route 66. He died from cancer on Dec. 16, 2009. Fans of his artwork can still purchase his posters, postcards, stickers, and other work on his website BobWaldmire. com, which is run by his brother Buz.
Tom Perkins: Guardian of Illinois’ Mother Road Heritage
Tom Perkins is one of those Route 66 stewards who doesn’ t just preserve history; he lives inside it and makes sure everyone who stops in Gardner, Illinois, can feel it too. At the heart of his work is The Shop on Route 66, a small, bright red building that sits along North Center Street and has become one of the most recognizable and welcoming stops in northern Illinois. What might look like a simple souvenir shop quickly reveals itself as something much more. The Shop is a personal archive of Route 66 culture, a community gathering point, and a living museum shaped by decades of care and conversation.
Perkins is widely regarded by travelers as one of the most knowledgeable and approachable voices on this stretch of the Mother Road. Visitors consistently describe him as generous with his time, offering directions, historical context, and often a deeper understanding of the towns and landmarks that many drivers would otherwise pass without noticing. In many ways, the shop functions as a roadside information hub, where maps and souvenirs are matched with firsthand knowledge of the road’ s past and present.
The building itself carries its own family history. Originally tied to a 1930s- era lumberyard operation, it has remained in the Perkins family in various forms for generations before being transformed into the current Route 66 stop. That continuity gives the shop a sense of authenticity that can’ t be manufactured.
Beyond the shelves of Coca- Cola collectibles, vintage license plates, and Route 66 keepsakes, what defines Tom Perkins’ contribution is his role as a steward of experience. He greets travelers, shares stories, and preserves the idea that Route 66 is not just something to drive but something to connect with. In a corridor increasingly defined by memory, Perkins ensures that Gardner remains a place where the Mother Road still feels present, personal, and human.
Learn more about The Shop on Route 66 at TheShop OnRoute66. com.
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