What's New

Kelly Laffey at ShelterPop has published a nifty little gallery showcasing 10 of the strangest examples of roadside architecture visible across the U.S.

Coming in at number 7 is one my favorites, the mysterious Kettle House in Galveston, Texas. Laffey kindly cited Weird Texas as her source of information for the strange, bowl-shaped abode, though she only credited my two esteemed co-authors, inexplicably leaving my name out. Which is odd, really, since I was the one wrote that chapter.

Am I bitter? Nah. 'Cause I know the secret behind the Kettle House ... and I'm not telling Kelly.

Who doesn't love the Wienermobile? The analogous, frankfurter-shaped vehicles have been an ongoing Oscar Mayer tradition since 1936 and never fail to gather a crowd wherever they stop.

Unfortunately, the crowd that gathered last Friday in Racine, Wisconsin, weren't so much interested in getting their hands on the collectible Wienerwhistles passed out by the sausage wagon's drivers, but rather to get a unique peek at what is probably the most serious auto accident to involve a Wienermobile in its more than 70-year history. Read More »

While looking into the recent news that states are starting to shut down many roadside rest areas, I came across a site that once again proves just how wonderful the Internet is: Restareahistory.org, a comprehensive guide on highway rest stops and picnic shelters.

The site, developed by architectural and cultural historian Joanna Dowling, offers what is probably more than you ever thought you'd want to know about safety rest areas. Dowling has collected photos both recent and historic from across the United States, as well as information on architectural elements, planning, development and preservation, along with links to rest-area-related news items and departments of transportation.

This just in: the fantastical Googie sign that was rescued from the now-defunct Sigel's liquor store in Dallas will finally be christened at its new location tomorrow morning.

The sign, which was built in 1953 and stood at the corner of Inwood and Lemmon until just a few weeks ago, was installed at another Sigel's location in Addison, at 15003 Inwood Road, Read More »

While on the road, I always try and remember to pick up a postcard or two every place I stop. And though I've got more than I can count by now, my favorite remains this art deco number I picked up a few years ago at Carlsbad Caverns.

With minimal colors and organic, yet uncluttered lines, it portrays the majesty and scale of New Mexico's grand cave formations in a style that's unmistakably 1930s.

What I discovered much later was that this design was just one in a larger body of work commissioned by the Works Project Administration. From 1935 to 1943, the Federal Art Project hired artists to create numerous cultural and public-safety posters, which included several works encouraging citizens to visit the country's National Parks and natural wonders. Read More »

About a month ago, I wrote about the hideous Inhalt camper, a travel trailer that took a comfortable-looking mobile home and wrapped it in a huge, partially digested chunk of white chocolate.

Thankfully, the future holds alternatives, a couple of which actually look pretty promising. WebUrbanist has put together a list of some of the most recent concepts to hit the drawing board.

Personally, I prefer the classically styled, teardrop-inspired T@b, pictured here ... despite the stupid name.

With summer in full swing, detourists are hitting the road in search of roadside attractions and capturing their adventures with their brand new digital cameras. Unfortunately, many of them will subsequently bring home a slideshow full of mediocre photos they'll force on the rest of us.

Before you commit the same faux pas, you might want to peruse a few of these sites offering helpful tips on taking better photos while out and about: Read More »

The Haunted Lamp has just posted their second installment of vintage neon illustrations from a rescued 1950s sign catalog.

Apparently, the catalog includes specifications for building each sign. As noted, "The giant chicken is to be executed in clear fiberglass and lit from within."

Anyone else ever discover such a catalog? I'd love to see it!

Check out these eerily beguiling images mined from a 1958 catalog on neon-sign design, which I spotted over at The Haunted Lamp.

As one visitor put it:

What happened to design? What happened to style? What happened?

Yeah, future ... let's hear it!

Photographer Andrew Qzmn (just you try pronouncing that) braved last year's Russian winter to visit the town of Chukhloma, where he found breathtaking examples of 19th-century, handcrafted, wooden architecture left abandoned among the trees.

Located about 300 miles northeast of Moscow, the houses, known as Terem, are wonderfully ornate, trimmed heavily in detailed latticework much like the Victorian "gingerbread" houses found in the U.S. Read More »