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Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

Historic building
In Springfield, Illinois
0.1 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

The Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership in Springfield, IL, is a three-story building that Ford dealer Frank Jennings put up in 1919. It stood on South 4th Street, Springfield's auto row in those days, and handled every part of the car business under one roof. Of the handful of old dealership buildings left downtown, it is in the best condition, a fitting stop for anyone driving Route 66 for the love of cars.

What is Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership?

Across its three floors, the dealership combined a showroom, a service shop, a paint shop, a car wash and a storage garage. That all-in-one layout reflected how a full dealership worked at the time. Today Illinois National Bank uses the building for its operations, so it is best seen from outside.

History of Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

Cars became common in Springfield during the 1910s, and several dealers set up shop along South 4th Street. Jennings Ford itself closed at some point between 1927 and 1933, but the building went on selling cars through the 1950s. It was listed on the National Register in May 2006.

Visiting Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership: tips

The building is about 0.7 mile off the old road. The Virgil Hickox House and the Vachel Lindsay House are each about 0.1 mile away, and the Leland Hotel about 0.2 mile, so it is easy to include in a downtown walk.

Practical info

Address: 431 South 4th Street, Springfield, IL 62701
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

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Diner & restaurant
Charlie Parker's Diner
Springfield, IL · 2.3 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership
A Springfield diner dating from 1992, handy for a meal while exploring the Illinois capital on Route 66.
Diner & restaurant
Cozy Dog Drive In
Springfield, IL · 2.4 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership
A Springfield drive-in known for its cornmeal-battered Cozy Dogs, Route 66 memorabilia and guest book.

On the map

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Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.

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Stops near Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

All of Illinois

Virgil Hickox House

Springfield, Illinois · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Downtown Springfield's last surviving house, built in 1839 and later a speakeasy and legislators' tavern.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

0.1 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

Vachel Lindsay House

Springfield, Illinois · 0.2 mi from Route 66

The 1848 Springfield house where poet Vachel Lindsay was born and lived his whole life, now a museum.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

0.1 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

Leland Hotel

Springfield, Illinois · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Springfield's old Leland Hotel, where the horseshoe sandwich is said to have been born in 1928.

Historic hotel

0.2 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

Illinois State Capitol

Springfield, Illinois · 0.1 mi from Route 66

Illinois's working statehouse, a cross-shaped capitol with a silvery zinc-clad dome finished in the 1880s.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

0.2 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

Cong. James M. Graham House

Springfield, Illinois · 0.2 mi from Route 66

The Italianate Springfield home of a congressman who took part in major federal investigations.

Historic buildingPhoto credit

0.2 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

Central Springfield Historic District

Springfield, Illinois · 0.2 mi from Route 66

Twelve acres of 19th-century brick storefronts wrapped around Springfield's Old State Capitol.

Historic districtPhoto credit

0.2 mi from Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership

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