Bensons Sign Route 66 | Limited Edition of 10

Historic Bensons Mural Along Route 66 In Pontiac, Illinois

Some places along Route 66 feel less like roadside stops and more like living history painted directly onto the walls of small-town America. This mural in Pontiac, Illinois, stopped me in my tracks the moment I saw it. Stretching across an old brick building, the massive painted advertisement for Benson’s feels like a time capsule from another era.

The sign itself is bold and theatrical. A sweeping ribbon frame surrounds the name Benson’s, rendered in thick lettering that was clearly meant to be read from a distance by passing motorists. Beneath it, the phrase “Pleasing You Pleases Us” curves across the mural like a friendly promise from another generation of shopkeepers. What makes the scene even more compelling is the artwork within the sign itself. A smiling portrait of the company founder appears beside a painted scene of a man and children working on the sign, creating a layered moment in which the mural depicts the act of painting itself. It’s advertising, storytelling, and folk art all rolled into one.

The surrounding brick wall tells its own story. Years of weather and age have softened the paint and darkened the mortar lines, creating texture and contrast that works beautifully in black and white. The tall industrial window beside the mural anchors the composition. It reminds me that these buildings were once working parts of a thriving downtown, not just nostalgic landmarks along a famous highway.

I photographed this scene while exploring Pontiac during a Route 66 road trip. Pontiac is one of those towns that embraces its roadside history with pride, and murals like this one are everywhere if you slow down long enough to look for them. Standing there with the camera, I was struck by how the sign still communicates exactly what it was meant to do decades ago: catch your eye and make you smile.

I personally sign each print and include a certificate of authenticity. The photograph is produced using archival pigment inks on museum-quality photographic paper to preserve the detail in the brickwork, lettering, and textures of the aging mural.

If you appreciate the culture, nostalgia, and roadside character that made this highway legendary, you can explore more pieces from my Route 66 wall art photography collection.

© Dan Kosmayer, 2022