American Giants Museum

Joel Baker has been the central figure in modern muffler man documentation, restoration, and preservation for roughly two decades. Operating originally through a personal website and YouTube channel — both titled around the 'American Giants' theme — Baker has traveled the United States cataloging surviving International Fiberglass figures, interviewing the original owners and operators when possible, documenting restorations, and gradually building a national network of muffler man enthusiasts, restorers, and roadside-attraction tourists.

Baker's documentary work has been responsible for identifying and locating many of the approximately 200 surviving International Fiberglass figures still in existence, including figures forgotten in barns, abandoned in old commercial lots, and held by descendants of original owners who didn't know what they had. Several high-profile restoration projects in the 2010s and early 2020s — including figures rescued from imminent loss — have been Baker-led efforts, and his YouTube content has popularized the niche to a much broader audience than the small Route 66 collector community of earlier decades.

The Atlanta museum is the natural physical manifestation of the network Baker has built. The choice of Atlanta as the museum's location is deliberate — Tall Paul already drew muffler man pilgrims to the town, the local community had demonstrated commitment to Route 66 preservation through the Atlanta Betterment Fund's existing work, and the small downtown had the available commercial real estate for a sympathetic museum conversion. The American Giants Museum opened in 2023 as the consolidation of Baker's two-decade research collection into permanent public-facing exhibit form.

The indoor exhibit space covers the history of International Fiberglass — the Venice, California company that produced most of the surviving muffler men between roughly 1962 and 1972 — and the broader context of mid-century American roadside commercial advertising. Archival photographs document the company's factory floor, the original mold-making process, and the variety of figures and customizations available to commercial clients. Smaller artifacts include original brochures, sales materials, period photographs of muffler men in their original commercial contexts, and a substantial collection of small-scale models and replicas.

The outdoor 'giants' yard is the highlight for most visitors. The yard hosts a rotating selection of full-size International Fiberglass figures — typically 4 to 8 figures depending on the year — in various states of restoration. Some are pristine, fully repainted figures available for close-up photography. Others are works-in-progress that demonstrate the restoration process: weathered original paint, repaired fiberglass surfaces, replacement arms and hands being prepared, and the structural reinforcement that long-term outdoor display requires. The mix gives visitors an unusually clear window into how these figures actually survive across decades.

Interpretive signage throughout both the indoor and outdoor spaces explains the technical, commercial, and cultural history. Specific topics include the difference between the various International Fiberglass figure types (Paul Bunyan, Cowboy, Indian, Texaco Big Friend, and others), the history of regional muffler man customizations, the role of muffler men in 1960s and 1970s roadside advertising strategy, and the current preservation challenges facing surviving figures. The signage is genuinely educational and produces a richer understanding of Tall Paul and similar figures elsewhere on Route 66.

Since opening, the American Giants Museum has begun hosting an annual muffler man gathering — typically in summer or early fall — that draws collectors, restorers, and enthusiasts from across the United States. The event has grown each year and typically includes a 'parade of giants' where multiple full-size fiberglass figures are temporarily relocated to Atlanta for the event, restoration demonstrations and workshops, lectures by Joel Baker and other prominent muffler man researchers, and informal socializing among the niche but passionate community of muffler man owners and admirers.

Beyond the annual gathering, the museum hosts smaller events throughout the year — guided tours, restoration workshop weekends, and occasional themed exhibits on specific aspects of roadside-giant history. The event calendar evolves year-to-year as the museum has continued to scale; the current schedule is published on the museum's website and social media channels. Route 66 travelers timing a visit to coincide with one of the larger annual events should expect significantly higher crowds and a much richer experience.

For everyday visits outside the major event windows, the museum is a quiet and contemplative space. Most weekday visits see only a handful of other visitors, and the docents (typically volunteers or Joel Baker himself when he's on-site) are usually available for extended conversation about specific figures, restoration techniques, or muffler man scholarship questions. The intimate scale is genuinely part of the museum's charm.

Hours have evolved since the 2023 opening as the museum has scaled its operations. Current hours are generally Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm during the peak Route 66 tourism season (April through October), with reduced hours in winter and occasional weekday closures depending on volunteer availability. The museum's website and social media are the best sources for current hours, and visitors making a long drive should verify the day's opening before arriving.

Admission is free with donations strongly encouraged. The museum operates as a small nonprofit with a mix of volunteer staffing and limited paid staff; donations directly fund ongoing restoration projects, building maintenance, and the acquisition of additional figures and archival materials. Suggested donation is roughly $5 to $10 per adult; larger contributions are welcomed and can be directed to specific projects.

Photography is permitted and actively encouraged in both the indoor and outdoor spaces. Tripods are welcome for the outdoor figures. The museum is generally accessible — the indoor space is on a single floor with a level entrance, and the outdoor yard is on a paved or gravel surface — though some of the older surrounding downtown sidewalks have uneven sections that may require attention for wheelchair users.

The natural Atlanta combination treats the American Giants Museum and Tall Paul Bunyan as a paired experience — visit Paul first for the iconic photograph, then walk a few minutes to the museum to learn the broader context of what Paul is and where he fits in the larger story of mid-century roadside advertising. The pairing turns each individual stop into something richer than either would be alone, and most visitors leave the museum looking at Paul (and every other muffler man they encounter elsewhere on Route 66) with substantially more informed appreciation.

Beyond the museum-and-Paul pairing, Atlanta's small downtown supports a comfortable 2-to-3-hour visit including the Palms Grill Cafe (breakfast, lunch, or pie), the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum, and the Atlanta Public Library's distinctive octagonal 1908 building. The entire downtown is walkable from any single parking spot and the visit fits comfortably into a half-day stop on an Illinois Route 66 itinerary.

For deeper muffler man enthusiasts, Atlanta is the natural launching point for a broader Illinois muffler man tour. The Gemini Giant (a different International Fiberglass figure standing 28 feet tall and holding a silver rocket) at the Launching Pad in Wilmington is roughly 100 miles north and well worth pairing with an Atlanta visit. The Bunyon Country branding of the Atlanta region — and the broader Illinois Route 66 commitment to preserving roadside giants — produces one of the highest concentrations of muffler men in any single state along the Mother Road.