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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.