THE ARCHIVE / Themes

Route 66.

A road number can become part of a place’s identity, but a photograph holds more than a route label. Look closely at the businesses named in these records: how they address passing traffic, how their signs meet the surrounding landscape, and how an individual design becomes recognizable. The Roy’s and Holbrook Wigwam Village stories follow two distinct examples. This theme is based on explicit references in the archive records, rather than an inferred location near a modern route map.

77 photographs

1–24 / 77
Richfield Gas, Route 66, Cucamonga, California
Cucamonga, California1978

Richfield Gas, Route 66, Cucamonga, California

Stork Cafe, 3rd Street, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona1979

Stork Cafe, 3rd Street, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona

Highway Diner, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona2003

Highway Diner, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona

Sonic Drive-In Restaurant, Central Valley, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico2003

Sonic Drive-In Restaurant, Central Valley, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Uranium Cafe Chinese sign, Route 66, Grants, New Mexico
Grants, New Mexico1979

Uranium Cafe Chinese sign, Route 66, Grants, New Mexico

Wigwam Village #6, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona
Holbrook, Arizona1979

Wigwam Village #6, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona

Aztec Motel, office and sign, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico2003

Aztec Motel, office and sign, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aztec Motel, office detail, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico2003

Aztec Motel, office detail, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aztec Motel, diagonal view 1, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico2003

Aztec Motel, diagonal view 1, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aztec Motel, diagonal view 2, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico2003

Aztec Motel, diagonal view 2, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aztec Motel, frontal close-up view, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico2001

Aztec Motel, frontal close-up view, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Will Rogers Motor Court sign, Route 66, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma1979

Will Rogers Motor Court sign, Route 66, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Indian Trading Post, Route 66, Elk City, Oklahoma
Elk City, Oklahoma1982

Indian Trading Post, Route 66, Elk City, Oklahoma

Totem Pole Park, near Route 66, Foyil, Oklahoma
Foyil, Oklahoma2001

Totem Pole Park, near Route 66, Foyil, Oklahoma

Trail Drive-in Theater, closer view, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas1977

Trail Drive-in Theater, closer view, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas

Trail Drive-in Theater, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas1982

Trail Drive-in Theater, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas

Shear Indulgence Beauty Salon, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona2003

Shear Indulgence Beauty Salon, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona

West Theater, angle 1, Route 66, Grants, New Mexico
Grants, New Mexico2003

West Theater, angle 1, Route 66, Grants, New Mexico

West Theater, angle 2, Route 66, Grants, New Mexico
Grants, New Mexico2003

West Theater, angle 2, Route 66, Grants, New Mexico

State Theater, Central Avenue (Route 66), Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico1979

State Theater, Central Avenue (Route 66), Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hiland Theater, Central Avenue (Route 66), Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico1987

Hiland Theater, Central Avenue (Route 66), Albuquerque, New Mexico

Teepee Building (probably a food stand), horizontal, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona
Holbrook, Arizona1979

Teepee Building (probably a food stand), horizontal, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona

Teepee Building (probably a food stand), vertical, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona
Holbrook, Arizona1979

Teepee Building (probably a food stand), vertical, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona

Road House, Route 66, Fontana, California
Fontana, California1977

Road House, Route 66, Fontana, California