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

49–72 / 77
Tastee Freez ice cream sign, E. 11th Street (Route 66), Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma1979

Tastee Freez ice cream sign, E. 11th Street (Route 66), Tulsa, Oklahoma

Gas pump, Route 66, Kellyville, Oklahoma
Kellyville, Oklahoma1979

Gas pump, Route 66, Kellyville, Oklahoma

VFW sign, B-40, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona2003

VFW sign, B-40, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona

Fisher's barber pole, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas1982

Fisher's barber pole, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas

Sunset Drive-in Theater, West 9th Street, Business Route 66, Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas1977

Sunset Drive-in Theater, West 9th Street, Business Route 66, Amarillo, Texas

Arts & Crafts Center, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona1979

Arts & Crafts Center, Route 66, Winslow, Arizona

Teepee at gas station, souvenir place, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico1979

Teepee at gas station, souvenir place, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jene's Teepee Gifts, Route 66, Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico1982

Jene's Teepee Gifts, Route 66, Tucumcari, New Mexico

Teepee shed, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico1979

Teepee shed, Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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

Indian Trading Post, Route 66, Elk City, Oklahoma

Retro Burma Shave sign#1, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona
Peach Springs, Arizona2003

Retro Burma Shave sign#1, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona

Retro Burma Shave sign#2, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona
Peach Springs, Arizona2003

Retro Burma Shave sign#2, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona

Retro Burma Shave sign#3, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona
Peach Springs, Arizona2003

Retro Burma Shave sign#3, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona

Retro Burma Shave sign#4, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona
Peach Springs, Arizona2003

Retro Burma Shave sign#4, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona

Retro Burma Shave sign#5, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona
Peach Springs, Arizona2003

Retro Burma Shave sign#5, Route 66, Peach Springs, Arizona

Blue Whale, Route 66, Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa, Oklahoma1995

Blue Whale, Route 66, Catoosa, Oklahoma

Table and stools, Blue Whale, Route 66, Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa, Oklahoma1995

Table and stools, Blue Whale, Route 66, Catoosa, Oklahoma

Fireworks stand, Route 66, Clinton, Oklahoma
Clinton, Oklahoma1982

Fireworks stand, Route 66, Clinton, Oklahoma

Three cabins, Wigwam Village #7, Route 66, Rialto, California
Rialto, California2003

Three cabins, Wigwam Village #7, Route 66, Rialto, California

Tsaya Trading Co. sign, Route 666, Cortez, Colorado
Cortez, Colorado1991

Tsaya Trading Co. sign, Route 666, Cortez, Colorado

Jene's Teepee Gifts, Route 66, Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico1982

Jene's Teepee Gifts, Route 66, Tucumcari, New Mexico

TP Store, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona
Holbrook, Arizona1979

TP Store, Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona

Holloway Worm Farm, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas1982

Holloway Worm Farm, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas

Holloway Worm Farm, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas1982

Holloway Worm Farm, Route 66, Amarillo, Texas