Entry No. 33 — the Chicago file — filed under: roadside-oddity
American Giants Museum & Bunyon's Hot Dog Giant
This small Route 66 museum is devoted entirely to the 1960s-70s 'Muffler Men' fiberglass giants, with restored examples and exhibits on how they were made. Right across Arch Street stands Bunyon's Giant, a 19-foot lumberjack cradling an enormous hot dog, who once towered over a Cicero hot-dog stand from 1966 until the stand closed in 2002 and he was moved here in 2003. The outdoor giants are visible around the clock even when the indoor museum is shut.
The story
In 1966, hot-dog stand owner Hamlet Stephens needed an unmissable gimmick along Ogden Avenue in Cicero, Illinois. He purchased a 19-foot fiberglass lumberjack from California's International Fiberglass Company—the outfit behind hundreds of roadside 'Muffler Men' built across mid-century America—swapped its ax for a giant hot dog, and intentionally spelled the name 'Bunyon' with an 'o' to avoid copyright lawyers. For 36 years, the giant stood over Cicero traffic until the stand closed in 2002, leading to its acquisition and relocation to Atlanta, Illinois in 2003 directly alongside a historic 1926 alignment of Route 66.
The town didn't stop with a single giant. In May 2024, the Atlanta Betterment Fund partnered with Muffler Man historian and collector Joel Baker to open the American Giants Museum directly across Arch Street. Housed in a custom-built structure designed after a vintage 1960s Texaco gas station, the museum serves as a dedicated archive for International Fiberglass creations. Inside and around the courtyard, visitors can study rare surviving figures like the Texaco Big Friend alongside exhibits explaining how these hollow, arm-swappable advertising behemoths were molded, painted, and deployed across American highways.
What it's like
Visiting downtown Atlanta puts you right on Arch Street where the 19-foot Bunyon's Giant cradles his fiberglass frankfurter outdoors. The indoor museum operates inside the Texaco-style station on seasonal hours—typically running from spring through autumn, roughly April to October—so check ahead before making the drive down I-55. Even if you arrive when the indoor exhibits are locked, the outdoor statue courtyard remains lit and accessible around the clock, meaning a late-night road trip photo op is always on the table.
The move: Take a Route 66 day trip to geek out over restored fiberglass giants in the museum, then snap a photo with the 19-foot hot-dog-holding Bunyon down the block.
📍 Before you go Indoor museum hours are seasonal, check the site or Facebook before going; the outdoor giants including Bunyon are accessible 24/7.
- 📍 Atlanta
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 100 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Gemini Giant — Pair two of Route 66's premier fiberglass titans by visiting this helmeted astronaut Muffler Man cradling a rocket in Wilmington.
- Fox River Trolley Museum — Trade mid-century fiberglass advertising figures for living transit history at this volunteer-run streetcar museum in South Elgin.
- Galloping Ghost Arcade — Follow up your tour of 1960s roadside marketing with hours of vintage arcade gaming inside Brookfield's massive cabinet hall.
Good to know
Can I see the Bunyon Giant if the museum is closed?
Yes. The outdoor statues, including the 19-foot hot-dog-holding Bunyon Giant across Arch Street, are accessible outdoors 24 hours a day.
What are the indoor museum hours?
Indoor museum hours are seasonal (generally operating between April and October). Because hours vary, check their website or social media pages to confirm before visiting.
Why is it spelled 'Bunyon' instead of 'Bunyan'?
Original stand owner Hamlet Stephens purposefully used the spelling 'Bunyon' with an 'o' in 1966 to avoid trademark disputes while promoting his Cicero hot dog business.
Who made these giant fiberglass statues?
Most Muffler Men and roadside giants featured here were produced during the 1960s and 1970s by International Fiberglass Company in Venice, California.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · Official site · Roadside America · route66roadmap.com · theroute-66.com
last checked: 2026-06-23