Shea's Gas Station Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Location | 1168 Sangamon Avenue Springfield, Illinois United States |
|---|---|
Shea's Gas Station Museum was a unique place in Springfield, Illinois. It started as a real gas station on the famous Route 66. The owner, Bill Shea, and his wife Helen turned it into a museum. They filled it with many cool old items from gas stations.
Contents
A Look Inside Shea's Gas Station Museum
The main part of the museum was the Mahan Filling Station building itself. This building used to be a working Texaco and later a Marathon gas station. People believed it was the oldest gas station in Illinois!
Inside, you could find all sorts of interesting things. There were original gas pumps, old wooden phone booths, and many signs. You could also see photos and other special items. These things reminded visitors of what old Route 66 service stations were like.
Moving the Historic Building
In February 2000, the old Mahan's Station building was moved. It traveled about 21 miles to its new spot at Fulgenzi's. After the move, the building was completely fixed up and looked new again.
The museum became a popular stop for travelers. People from all over Europe and Asia visited it. They often came while exploring the famous Mother Road.
Honoring Bill Shea and His Family
Bill Shea loved preserving the history of Route 66. He also collected many gas station items. Because of his dedication and great service to his customers, Bill Shea was honored. He and his shop were added to the Route 66 Hall of Fame in 1993. Later, in 2002, the entire Shea family was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
What Happened to the Museum?
Sadly, Bill Shea passed away in December 2013. After his death, the gas station property was sold. In 2015, all the items from the museum were sold at an auction. As of 2015, the old Filling Station building is now used as Fulgenzi's Pizza & Pasta.
