Roadside landmarks
A filling station needed to be recognizable from the road. Its signs could identify a brand, mark an entrance, or turn a small business into a landmark. At some stations the boundary between advertising and architecture became particularly close.
The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock, Texas, opened in 1936 along Route 66. Its Art Deco towers gave the service station and cafe a conspicuous profile. The building illustrates how a stop for fuel or a meal could become a memorable part of a journey, with its silhouette carrying some of the work normally assigned to a freestanding sign.
What to look for
- Signs scaled for recognition from the road
- Brand identity integrated with architecture
- Towers and vertical features marking a stopping place
Sources and further reading
Explore more
- Back to Signs
- Neon Signs
- Highway Shields
- National Park Signs
- Route 66 — related topic