Shea's Gas Station Museum

Shea's Gas Station Museum is a museum in Springfield displaying vintage gas pumps, oil cans, signs, and photographs from American gas stations. The collection documents the evolution of automotive service stations from the early-to-mid 20th century.

The building operated as a Texaco and Marathon gas station from 1946 until 1982, then was transformed into a museum by Bill and Helen Shea. This conversion in the 1990s preserved the history of the working station for visitors to experience.

The collection shows how gas stations evolved throughout the 20th century, with items from major oil companies like Shell and Texaco that shaped everyday life. Visitors can understand the role these stations played in people's daily routines and travel.

The museum is located right along Route 66 and is easy to find when traveling through Springfield. Plan to spend time reading the descriptions and stories behind each artifact to better understand the displays.

The museum's guestbook contains entries from travelers who journeyed from Europe and Asia specifically to explore Route 66 heritage. These international visits show how the historic road fascinates people from around the globe.