ATLANTA - Atlanta has been chosen to represent Illinois on a series of posters depicting each of the states along Route 66.

The series of eight posters were designed by American impressionist artist R. Bolton Smith of Hilton Head Island, S.C. He captured the images of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California through a journey along the Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway last year with his wife, Joyce.

The Illinois poster features the Atlanta Library and Museum, which is on the National Register of Historical Places. Each poster depicts one location in each state along the highway.

Smith was born in the Midwest in 1944 and is best known for his landscapes of the American Southwest, Central Plains, Southeast and Europe, according to his Web site, www.rboltonsmith, where the images can be bought. Each 8-by-10 inch print can be purchased for $20.

"That poster just perfectly represents small-town America," said John Weiss, a member of the Illinois Route 66 Association.

Smith could not be reached for comment.

"I think Smith chose our library and museum as the feature for many reasons, one being because of the warm reception he got from everyone on his visit here," said museum curator Lucille Pech, who met with Smith when he was on his tour of Route 66. "I think he was really made to feel welcome here. It had to be because of our hospitality."

Pech also said Smith most likely chose the building because it is one of only three octagonal libraries or museums on the list of historical landmarks.

"We are definitely proud of our history. We get people from all over the world coming through here, and the poster just shows what a great landmark we have," said Pech. "We are really pleased when people remember Atlanta.

"If it wasn't for Route 66, we may not have much tourism through our town at all," she said.