In an era where modernism threatened to erase the quirky charm of America’s highways, one man stood defiantly with his camera: John Margolies. A renowned photographer, author, and architectural critic, Margolies embarked on a monumental mission between 1969 and 2008 to capture thousands of photographs of the nation’s unique buildings and iconic roadside attractions. His extraordinary collection, now safeguarded by the Library of Congress, offers an invaluable visual chronicle of American history, focusing on the vibrant, often eccentric, main streets, gas stations, motels, and signage he knew were destined to disappear.
The Genesis of a Lifelong Obsession
Born on May 16, 1940, in New Canaan, Connecticut, John Samuel Margolies developed an early fascination with roadside attractions. Despite his parents dismissing these structures as
