THE ARCHIVE / Themes

Mimetic Buildings.

Some buildings ask to be recognized as something else before they are recognized as buildings. A teapot, shoe or animal supplies an outline that can be understood in a glance. The surprises begin when doors, windows and rooms must fit inside that borrowed form. Explore the photographs alongside the stories of Lucy, the Haines Shoe House and the Teapot Dome station to see how an oversized image could serve advertising, hospitality or a lasting local identity.

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92 photographs

1–24 / 92

Teapot Dome gas station, Zillah, Washington — Zillah, Washington1987
Teapot Dome gas station, Zillah, Washington

Harold's Auto Center, horizontal view, Sinclair gas station, Route 19, Spring Hill, Florida — Spring Hill, Florida1979
Harold's Auto Center, horizontal view, Sinclair gas station, Route 19, Spring Hill, Florida

Premium gas station (formerly Joy gas station), Lakeshore Boulevard & Windemere, Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Toronto, Ontario1977
Premium gas station (formerly Joy gas station), Lakeshore Boulevard & Windemere, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Bomber gas station, diagonal view, Route 99 E., Milwaukie, Oregon — Milwaukie, Oregon1980
Bomber gas station, diagonal view, Route 99 E., Milwaukie, Oregon

Hat n' Boots gas station, overall view, Route 99, Seattle, Washington. — Seattle, Washington1980
Hat n' Boots gas station, overall view, Route 99, Seattle, Washington.

Hat n' Boots gas station (1945), boot restrooms with hat behind them view, 6800 [East] Marginal Way [South], Route 99, Seattle, Washington — Seattle, Washington1977
Hat n' Boots gas station (1945), boot restrooms with hat behind them view, 6800 [East] Marginal Way [South], Route 99, Seattle, Washington

World's Largest Redwood Tree Service Station (1936), angle, Route 101, Ukiah, California — Ukiah, California1991
World's Largest Redwood Tree Service Station (1936), angle, Route 101, Ukiah, California

Shell gas station (restoration), Winston-Salem, North Carolina — Winston-Salem, North Carolina2001
Shell gas station (restoration), Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Teepee gas station, Route 40, Lawrence, Kansas — Lawrence, Kansas1980
Teepee gas station, Route 40, Lawrence, Kansas

Pagoda gas station, Harley Sprague, Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Milwaukee, Wisconsin1977
Pagoda gas station, Harley Sprague, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Donut Hole, straight-on view, no cars, Amar Road, La Puente, California — La Puente, California1991
The Donut Hole, straight-on view, no cars, Amar Road, La Puente, California

The Donut Hole, angle view, Amar Road, La Puente, California — La Puente, California1991
The Donut Hole, angle view, Amar Road, La Puente, California

Bob's Java Jive, Route 99, Tacoma, Washington — Tacoma, Washington1979
Bob's Java Jive, Route 99, Tacoma, Washington

Hoot Owl Cafe, horizontal view, 8711 Long Beach Boulevard, Southgate, Los Angeles, California — Los Angeles, California1977
Hoot Owl Cafe, horizontal view, 8711 Long Beach Boulevard, Southgate, Los Angeles, California

Hoot Owl Cafe, side view, 8711 Long Beach Boulevard, Southgate, Los Angeles, California — Los Angeles, California1977
Hoot Owl Cafe, side view, 8711 Long Beach Boulevard, Southgate, Los Angeles, California

Big Fish Supper Club, horizontal view 1, Route 2, Bena, Minnesota — Bena, Minnesota1980
Big Fish Supper Club, horizontal view 1, Route 2, Bena, Minnesota

Fish Inn, side view, Old Route 10, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — Coeur d'Alene, Idaho1987
Fish Inn, side view, Old Route 10, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Fish Inn, diagonal view from mouth, Old Route 10, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — Coeur d'Alene, Idaho1987
Fish Inn, diagonal view from mouth, Old Route 10, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Orange Julep, Route 9, Plattsburgh, New York — Plattsburgh, New York1978
Orange Julep, Route 9, Plattsburgh, New York

Leaning Tower of Pizza, Quincy, Massachusetts — Quincy, Massachusetts1984
Leaning Tower of Pizza, Quincy, Massachusetts

Tower of Pizza, vertical view, Route 22, Green Brook, New Jersey — Green Brook, New Jersey1978
Tower of Pizza, vertical view, Route 22, Green Brook, New Jersey

Mammy's Cupboard, angle view, Route 61, Natchez, Mississippi — Natchez, Mississippi1979
Mammy's Cupboard, angle view, Route 61, Natchez, Mississippi

Mammy's Cupboard, side view, Route 61, Natchez, Mississippi — Natchez, Mississippi1979
Mammy's Cupboard, side view, Route 61, Natchez, Mississippi

Coney Island Dairyland, Route 285, Aspen Park, Colorado — Aspen Park, Colorado1980
Coney Island Dairyland, Route 285, Aspen Park, Colorado