The Gemini Giant - History Secured

For both Route 66 travelers and locals of Wilmington, IL, March 20, 2024 might as well have been the moon landing. Thousands sat riveted to their phones or computer screen waiting to see the fate of the Gemini Giant. Would a private collector get it, would someone out of state or even out of country snag it? Would it be saved and stay in Wilmington, no one knew. Join us as we talk about that day and the weeks leading up to it and the small role the American Giants Museum got to play in his take down and transport. Also learn a bit more about the history of Muffler Man and specifically the Space Men that were made in the mid 60s.
Website - usagiants.com
Email - [e-mail]
Patreon - patreon.com/AmericanGiants
American Giants Museum - www.americangiantsmuseum.com
Joliet Historical Museum - www.jolietmuseum.org

[@jconnway]

Such a beautiful muffler man!

[@forestpkguy]

Thank you for taking such good care of our giant

[@Evom777]

Ironically, I just bought a 1 oz .999 silver piece that commemorates Route 66 and the Gemini Man. It's a good looking piece that really captures his likeness. I wanted to know the history of this muffler man and just found out about the latest drama concerning it. I'm glad it will stand again! 💪

[@StressLessCamping]

Wow - just wow. This just shows that things you think are permanent/forever are part of the march of time. Glad I got to see it at the Launching Pad when we did and glad it’s staying in the neighborhood. As always, great job!

[@Laine2539]

Love to see the Giant since I was a little girl. So happy he is safe and sound!

[@DLeadVox]

💛💛💛 I have tears in my eyes. Thank you Dave, Joel and your team for helping! For coming to Wilmington and properly removing the Gemini Giant from where he stood for almost 60 years. He is precious to us. Your help and expertise made sure GG's take off and landing were precision operations. I will be making the trip to Atlanta this summer to visit the museum and thank you in person! DD☮️

[@Hobart1958]

Great video, loved the history lesson! We'll be making a road trip to your museum this year!

[@UkuleleBetty]

Thank you, Joel! Thank you, Joliet Historical Society! Thank you, Wilmington! For now, rest Gemini Giant. 💚

[@MrGoosePit]

Been following the saga of the Gemini Giant over the past year or so. Was thrilled to hear you guys were there to help save him For Wilmington. Thank You!!!

[@kat771973]

It was definitely a roller-coaster of emotion!! So happy our giant gets to stay!! 💚💚💚

[@glennh3855]

Thank You. I drove Rt 66 in 2023 and The Launching Pad was closed and heard several versions of several rumors. I hoped the Giant was going to stay because it was one of the icons of the start of Rt66. I was very relieved to so relieved to see this video. You do great work preserving Americana.

[@elibourgard8969]

Great job as always, Joel! Thank God there are people like you who care so much about what becomes of these giants.

[@SmokyMountainBlessed]

happy to see the Gemini Giant saved in his hometown, I traveled Route 66 as a kid with family, and love it and a little as an adult, looking forward to traveling it more, and visiting your museum, thanks for your help in saving this history, and my childhood memories being preserved to see again

[@BIGWojo68]

I'm so happy! Can't wait to visit the Gemini Giant's new home. I'm just a hop skip and a jump from Wilmington! Good job, guys!

[@gretchenschmeckpeper7545]

💚🚀Perfect🚀💚 Hopefully one day, anyone who can't fathom why anyone would want to save this big ol' piece of fiberglass will watch this & finally just get it. Thank you to EVERYONE involved! This can't be said enough.

[@marauder134]

10 out of 10. Great job!

[@UDUMBARA_Helsinki]

Thank You, this is so interesting. Wonderful that going to have a museum for The Great American Giants. I remember admiring them when traveling across USA in the early 1970. They were truly a big wonder for a 12-year-old from Finland!

[@hisdukeness3037]

I’ll be out to Atlanta soon! Just went to Peoria today to check out the tire gal.. looking good

[@galvaillinois]

Thank you very interesting

[@barberjeff67]

I noticed at 5:36 that streetlights used in the 64/65 NY World's Fair are next to the giant.

[@lwhitman57]

I lived in Joliet and worked in Wilmington back in the 1980s and ate lunch at the Launching Pad often. I thought the Gemini Giant was really cool but didn’t understand the significance of it at the time. I last visited in 2016 on a Route 66 drive from Tulsa to Chicago. I now live in Tulsa just blocks from Buck Atoms and soon-to-arrive Stella Atoms. Oh, there are a couple other Giants I’m familiar with - the Bunyan Muffler Man in Springfield, Illinois. I lived there during high school and passed by it often. My high school was Springfield Southeast whose mascot is a Spartan. There’s a huge statue on the front of the school of a carpet Viking turned Spartan.

[@JoeJoyHaveLanded]

Thank you so much for this. It is great to know he is safe. Back in 2012 the Gemini Giant was the first Muffler Man we ever stopped to see. Back then I was photographing roadside attraction and of course on a trip from NY to Omaha he was surely worth a stop. I love the Spaceman design, we actual have a model of the one from Coney Island on our nightstand. We can not wait for the official opening of your museum. We just need to know two things, when is the official date so we can book a hotel? And second can we document it?

[@AmericanGiants]

May 26 is the Grand Opening but we will be setting up some new giants on May 24. Yes feel free to document your experience!

[@JoeJoyHaveLanded]

@@AmericanGiants thank you so much. This will be incredible.

[@user-hx3nw3vj8m]

My dad worked at a muffler shop from 1956 till 2000 they got a Alfred E Newman in the 1960s muffler shop is closed now I wish someone would save him before the new owners tear him up he is in Beaumont Texas I wish I could have one in my front yard

[@LostDepot]

Ha Ha video has one thumbs down. I wonder who that could have been.

[@jamesb8305]

I'm shocked he weighs less than 500 pounds.

[@socialbootleggings]

This was such great news