Retro Road Signage: An American Icon
They don’t make em’ like they used to anymore. At least when it comes to retro road signage. Across the USA, places like “Roy’s Motel & Cafe” in California and “Palomino Motel” in New Mexico have the original signs of their businesses from when they were first created in the 1950s and the 1960s.
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Color schemes, font choice, materials used and even the shapes of the signs themselves are hard to miss while driving along historic highways like route 66.
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While some of these places are no longer functioning eateries, gas stations and motels, the signage is preserved to remember a time when modern design was incorporated into everyday life.
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These roadside icons were once glowing bright with neon lights and bustling with travelers looking for a bite to eat or a place to rest for the night. Although some signs have been restored to their former glory, many remain the same as the day they were left behind with a worn and weathered appearance.
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Photographers, road trippers and modern design enthusiasts head to these locations such as Holbrook, Arizona and Tucumcari, New Mexico for a glimpse into the past as they stroll through these now practically deserted towns.
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Although these American icons may one day be torn down, we have the ability to reminiscence about what they once were today. Fortunately, we can still have a piece of this style incorporated into our lives with modern furniture and retro decor. Keeping the spirit of the past alive as we move into a new tomorrow.