John Margolies' Photographs of Roadside America
The Public Domain Review showcases John Margolies' photographs of American roadside architecture, from novelty buildings like a whale-shaped car wash to punning billboards. His archive, now in the Library of Congress and free of copyright restrictions, captures the quirky vernacular of motels, diners, and signs that once lined the nation's highways, many now vanished.
Probably one of his favorite roadside phenomena to document, however, were novelty buildings.
- imgabe
These are really cool. I made a map of them a few years ago: https://roadside.photography
- NDlurker
Haha I knew Bob's Java Jive was going to be on there. Wasn't expecting the buffalo from Jamestown, ND.
Here's a good one from my hometown
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tommy-the-turtle
And then drive about 20 miles east and you hit this guy
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/w-eel-turtle
And then drive 30 miles north and you hit the original
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tommy-the-turtle-boissev...
- profsummergig
I love this. We need more whimsy. Unfortunately, refinement culture is taking over. Even the new McDonald's design is "private equity" refined.
- ofalkaed
The Octopus Carwash is one of my early memories from trips to the twin cities, probably the first time I have seen it or thought about it in 40 years. Kind of weird to stumble on that after all these years, I opened the link curious if there would be anything from my Minnesota childhood but did not expect that.
- js2
The LOC has a nice presentation of the complete collection two clicks away from the submitted link:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e31fca375f7a471a9a2e2cd...
via https://guides.loc.gov/roadside-america-photographs?loclr=fl...
via submitted link.
I was certain the collection had to have Lucy the Elephant and indeed it does: