United States Illinois Pontiac Allen Candy Company Historic Mural Black And White Urban Street Scene Wall Art Photo Art Print

When I wander through small American towns on old stretches of Route 66, I’m always drawn to the walls that still carry their history proudly. Pontiac, Illinois, is one of those places that doesn’t try to hide its past; it paints it right onto the brick. This black and white photograph captures the Allen Candy Company mural, a beautifully restored piece of Americana that sits just a few blocks from the heart of the historic downtown. Standing in front of it, I could almost imagine the smell of sugar drifting from an old factory door and workers loading crates into trucks headed across the Midwest.

In this image, the mural becomes the anchor for the entire frame. The hand-painted lettering, the swirling flourishes, and the illustration of an old industrial plant offer a glimpse into the commercial optimism of early twentieth-century America. Setting it against the clean geometry of the parking lot lines below creates an interesting tension: the past pressed against the present. I love working with scenes like this in black and white because it strips everything down to tone, texture, and form. The roughness of the brick, the crisp strokes of restored paint, and the faint cloud structure drifting overhead all fall into a slower rhythm that reminds me why these towns continue to fascinate me.

Pontiac has embraced its identity as a Route 66 waypoint, and you feel that while walking its streets. Murals appear everywhere—each one a moment in time captured on brick. When I was photographing this wall, I took my time stepping back, adjusting my composition, letting the lines breathe. I wanted to give the mural space so viewers could experience the message and craftsmanship without distraction. The empty parking spaces tell their own story too—they add quietness, a pause before the traffic and noise return.

Images like this resonate with me because they don’t rely on spectacle. They rely on memory. They remind us of the businesses that shaped communities long before digital storefronts and chain stores took over. I’ve always believed that travel photography isn’t just about landscapes or distant horizons; sometimes it’s about stopping in a small Midwestern town and letting a weathered brick wall tell you something about where you are.

If this atmosphere speaks to you, take a look at Route 66 Sign Pontiac Illinois.

© Dan Kosmayer, 2022