Part of Our Route 66 Everytown Collection - Lyons Edition
Crafted from ultra-soft 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, this unisex jersey tee blends relaxed comfort with the spirit of the open road. Featuring the "Gateway to the West" slogan, it celebrates Lyons, Illinois: a symbolic starting point for westward journeys along Historic Route 66.
Honor the moment where city streets give way to wide horizons and where adventure begins. Lyons marks the first "Gateway to the West" on the Mother Road, foreshadowing the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis, another City that shares the same moniker and welcomes travelers farther down the route.
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About Lyons, Illinois: Where the Journey Begins
Lyons is located in Cook County along Ogden Avenue. The town sits on the historic 1926-1977 alignment of Route 66 and proudly carries the title "Gateway to the West." Founded in 1888 along the Des Plaines River, Lyons offered one of the first major stopping points for travelers heading out of Chicago, making it a natural threshold between city life and the open road.
Route 66 adventurers can visit Hofmann Tower, a castle-like limestone landmark built in 1908 as part of a riverside amusement park. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the tower is a striking reminder of the town's early entertainment culture.
Lyons is also home to the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, where early explorers once carried canoes between waterways connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River: a link that shaped the entire region's trade and growth.
The Illinois segment of Route 66 is defined by two historic cities: Lyons and St. Louis. Lyons is the first town west of Chicago, acting as the Gateway to the West - where the epic journey truly begins. St. Louis then provides the final Illinois landmark: the classic Mississippi River crossing that leads travelers out of the state and deeper into the West.
Product Features:
- 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton for premium softness
- Side seams for added structure and durability
- Tear-away label for comfort
- Classic crew neckline with a flattering unisex fit - true-to-size for all day comfort (see size chart for details)
- Fulfilled in the USA
Care Instructions:
- Machine wash: cold (max 90°F / 30°C)
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Non-chlorine bleach as needed
- Iron or steam: medium heat
- Do not dry clean
