Standing at 14 feet just outside O’Brien Tire & Auto Care, Earl the Mechanic Muffler Man can fix it all with his trusty adjustable wrench in his left hand, a rag in the other, and a can-do smile. Earl is a custom build by fiberglass artist, Mark Cline, and was placed in June 2025.

Named after O’Brien’s patriarch and head mechanic, ‘Earl’ welcomes travelers to Granite Cityand the historic auto shop from his post on the north end of the city. O’Brien opened in 1906 and is the oldest and longest running tire and auto shop on Route 66- even older than the Mother Road!

Even taller than Earl at 20 feet- Rusty Muffler Man towers over the entrance to Lincoln Place, one of the oldest working-class neighborhoods in Granite City. Rusty was molded from a 1960s original Muffler Man by Mark Cline and honors the hardworking immigrants and industrial workers that built and worked the city’s rail yards and steel mills.

Rusty holds a red sledgehammer and is dressed in a hard hat, steel-toed boots, and has a lunchbox at his feet that says ‘Made in America’ with an American flag sticker- a ‘tribute to every blue-collar worker in Granite City’. His plaque reads: ‘This Muffler Man is more than fiberglass and bolts- he’s a sentinel of the working class… a reminder that the American Dream lives here.’

There’s a literal fork in the road in Granite City on Route 66- but this one doesn’t lead you east or west- it’s a dining fork for giants! ‘Forking’ someone’s yard has been a well-known American prank for decades- though they usually involve many smaller utensils! This gigantic fork monument is a fun spot to stick a fork in your map and take some photos as you travel Route 66!

It’s Electric Neon Sign Park is a must-see attraction on Route 66 in Granite City! See three vintage neon signs from the city’s past that light up at night, a giant Granite-ware tea pot and Make-It-Toy- both once made in the city- and multiple large murals dedicated to Granite City’s history on Route 66.

You can also place a ‘love lock’ on the Chain of Rocks Bridge replica in the center of the lawn- love locks are padlocks with loved ones or love interest’s names on them that you attach to places you’ve traveled.

Fabricated by Brian Depauli and titled “A Giant Swing for all my Friends”, this wooden swing set serves as both an art installation and a usable piece of playground equipment! Ten people can easily fit on the massive swing and it’s a great photo opportunity- especially for groups and families! The ten-person swing sits in the Granite City Art & Design District, an unofficial park area that’s a playground to local artists and stretches over several city blocks dotted with various art installations.