Route 66 Steak 'n Shake, Historic restaurant on Route 66 in Springfield, United States.
Route 66 Steak 'n Shake in Springfield is a diner built with a rectangular concrete structure, glazed ceramic tile cladding, and a flat roof topped by two original signs standing in front. The building retains its classic layout and serves traditional American meals in its original interior configuration.
Built in 1962 along the original Route 66 corridor, this restaurant was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. The listing recognized it as a significant example of mid-century roadside dining architecture and design.
The restaurant reflects post-war American dining culture when drivers traveled long distances and stopped at such roadside spots. The interior layout and service style show how restaurants were designed to serve travelers passing through.
The restaurant sits along East St. Louis Street with good parking available nearby for visitors. Keep in mind the building is an older structure, so its layout and facilities reflect the practical design and functionality of the 1960s era.
The restaurant kept both of its original freestanding signs and ceramic tile cladding intact, which is uncommon among similar roadside buildings from this era. Most comparable structures have been stripped of these details through renovation or deterioration over the decades.
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