Sprague's Super Service, Historic gas station in Normal, Illinois, US
Sprague's Super Service is a brick gas station with striking Tudor Revival architecture in Normal, Illinois, along the historic Route 66. The two-story building features steep gables, a broad red roofline, brick piers supporting the canopy, and decorative half-timbering on the upper level.
William Sprague built this service station in 1931 along Route 66, combining a gas station, restaurant, and apartments in a single structure. The project emerged during a time when such multipurpose buildings were appearing along this newly developed highway route.
The building shows how gas stations in the 1930s adapted their design to fit into residential neighborhoods and became part of everyday streetscapes. The blend of commercial space and apartments under one roof was typical of that era and still shapes how the street looks today.
The building sits in the downtown area and is easily accessible on foot since it is located in a residential neighborhood. Today it houses Ryburn Place, a visitor center and gift shop for Route 66 enthusiasts.
It is the largest remaining two-story fuel station building along the entire historic Route 66 and preserves its original architectural elements from 1931. This preservation makes it a rare example of early automobile culture architecture.
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