The story of the American Giants Museum.
Lee Woods and Giants Garage is providing a home for the American Giants Museum in the City of Atlanta, Illinois. The, one-of-a-kind experience is located at the corner of Arch & Vine Streets, on a 1926 alignment of Route 66 in downtown Atlanta.
The American Giants Museum tells the story of the kitschy and quirky “Muffler Man/Bunyan Giant” statues that sprang up in the 1960s as advertising gimmicks across the USA. Today, they are some of the most popular attractions for tourists traveling Historic Route 66.
Lee Woods, a Muffler Man enthusiast and collector from Arkansas works together with Joel Baker, the nation’s leading authority of – and advocate for – the identification, preservation, and restoration of the giant fiberglass statues produced in the 1960s by International Fiberglass Company, once located in Venice, California.
In 2021, American Giants entered into a partnership with the Atlanta Betterment Fund, a 501C3 that exists to improve tourism in Atlanta along Route 66. The Atlanta Betterment Fund purchased the property, constructed the museum building in October of 2022, and managed day-to-day operations and volunteers. Together, this partnership brought the American Giants Museum to life as a free, seasonal attraction open from April through October—quickly becoming a popular and well-loved Route 66 tourist stop..
With ownership changes that came in late 2025, it is important to recognize the incredible work of the Atlanta Betterment Fund and Bill Thomas, which operated and managed the American Giants Museum for its first three years. His dedication, vision, and commitment were instrumental in turning an idea into a reality. Without the Atlanta Betterment Fund, the American Giants Museum would simply not exist. From acquiring the property and overseeing construction to organizing volunteers and daily operations, they laid the groundwork that allowed the museum to grow into the destination it is today. Their efforts established the museum as a welcoming, educational, and community-driven space that continues to draw visitors from around the world.
Bill Thomas [L], with the Atlanta Betterment Fund and Joel Baker [R], founder of American Giants meet for the first time at the feet of Atlanta’s Bunyon Giant in 2012.
In late 2025 we experienced a significant and exciting change when the Atlanta Betterment Fund sold the American Giants Museum property and building to Lee Woods of Hot Springs, Arkansas. With this transition, management of the museum has shifted, and Joel Baker and American Giants will now be working directly with Lee Woods as partners moving forward. Lee Woods is no stranger to Muffler Men or to the collector community. Based in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lee already owns a large and impressive collection of giants that has become a tourist destination in its own right. He has been an active and respected member of the Muffler Man community for several years, driven by a deep passion for collecting and preserving these figures so the public can enjoy them. That passion closely aligns with Joel Baker’s long-standing vision: to educate people about Muffler Men, celebrate their history, and keep them accessible to the public. This shared mission makes the partnership between Joel and Lee a natural fit and an exciting step forward for the American Giants Museum.
If you are interested in watching the full story of the American Giants Museum, how it started and what the future holds. Watch this full documentary on the full story!
We are excited to announce a significant and exciting change that has recently taken place. The Atlanta Betterment Fund has sold the American Giants Museum property and building to Lee Woods of Hot Springs, Arkansas. With this transition, management of the museum has shifted, and Joel Baker and American Giants will now be working directly with Lee Woods as partners moving forward. Lee Woods is no stranger to Muffler Men or to the collector community. Based in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lee already owns a large and impressive collection of giants that has become a tourist destination in its own right. He has been an active and respected member of the Muffler Man community for several years, driven by a deep passion for collecting and preserving these figures so the public can enjoy them.