John Samuel Margolies (1940-2016) was an American architectural critic, photographer, and author who was noted for celebrating vernacular and novelty architecture in the United States, particularly those designed as roadside attractions.
Starting from the mid-1970s, Margolies began to photograph sites during long road trips, since he was concerned these sites would be displaced by the growing modernist trend. He was credited with shaping postmodern architecture and recognizing buildings that would be added to the National Register of Historic Places through his documentary work.
Starting in 2007, the Library of Congress began to acquire his photographs, and created the public domain John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive in 2016, consisting of 11,710 scans of color slides taken by Margolies.
Take a journey along U.S. main streets, byways, and highways through photographs taken by John Margolies in the late 1970s.
 |
| Arizona. Dairy Queen ice cream sign, Gila Bend |
 |
| Arizona. Hanks Coffee Shop sign, 4th Street, Benson |
 |
| Arizona. Owl Lodge sign, Benson Highway, South Tucson |
 |
| Arkansas. Tastee In ice cream sign, closer detail, Route 67, Arkadelphia |
 |
| California. Doggie Diner sign, McArthur Boulevard & San Pablo, Oakland |
 |
| California. McDonald's Restaurant sign, detail one, Route 66, Azusa |
 |
| Florida. Cremo ice cream sign in decay, Jacksonville |
 |
| Kansas. Cafe ice cream sign, Galena |
 |
| Kansas. Jac's Chicken Steak ice cream sign, Wichita |
 |
| Kansas. The Hutch Drive-In ice cream sign, South Hutchinson |
 |
| Kansas. Western-Ho Motel sign, Route 54, Liberal |
 |
| Kansas. Zesto ice cream sign, Wichita |
 |
| Kentucky. Clark's ice cream sign, Bowling Green |
 |
| Louisiana. Ko-Ko-Mo Dine In Your Car sign, Routes 79 & 80, Bossier City |
 |
| Louisiana. Reed & Bell Drive-In ice cream sign, Alexandria |
 |
| Massachusetts. Mr. Peanut sign, Route 6, Swansea |
 |
| Mississippi. Cream Castle ice cream sign, W. Malone, Sikeston |
 |
| Missouri. Mobil flying red horse sign, Rt. 60B, Mountain Grove |
 |
| New Mexico. Drive In ice cream sign, Route 124, Cubero |
 |
| New Mexico. Jack's Liquor sign, Central Avenue, Albuquerque |
 |
| New Mexico. Simon's Western Wear sign, Central Avenue, Albuquerque |
 |
| New Mexico. Tastee Freez ice cream sign, Santa Fe |
 |
| North Carolina. Big Giant ice cream sign, Route 25, Asheville |
 |
| Oklahoma. Charburg ice cream sign, E. Main Street, Enid |
 |
| Oklahoma. Dairy Bar ice cream sign, Route 64, Vian |
 |
| Oklahoma. Dairy Boy ice cream sign, Rt. 66, El Reno |
 |
| Tennessee. Big Orange ice cream sign, Rt. 41A, Clarksville |
 |
| Tennessee. Kay's ice cream sign, Knoxville |
|
| Tennessee. Kream Kastle ice cream sign, Rt. 70, Brownsville |
|
| Wisconsin. Town Pride Drive-In Restaurant sign, angle one, Teutonia at Villard Avenue, Milwaukee |
(Photo © John Margolies)