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The description becomes even crazier when you factor in all the fierce competition among the various roadside venues—after all, they had to stand out in whatever way they could, and stand out they did:
“As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one person may think is ridiculous, another might think is amazing. Seligman, Arizona is a tourist trap to some and a piece of Americana to others. A urinal in a hotel in San Luis Obispo, CA might be a piece of creative sculpture or simply a funny place to pee. A Jolly Green Giant statue in Minnesota can represent 1970s American corporatism or, to some, nostalgia.
The whole point of Margolies’ “Roadside America” was to preserve the structural authenticity and socio-cultural relevance of the roadside scene in the United States. And it does that—to some degree. According to Mark, roadside attractions might not be losing their relevance, but interest in them is definitely being lost.
The main reason for this is that folks have mostly seen it all at this point. The age of the internet has allowed folks to see and experience things without even going there, desensitizing them to pretty much any freak-show roadside attraction that might be out there. This is besides more people opting for air travel due to the long distances. And so, it becomes increasingly harder for these locations to stay afloat.
But despite the seemingly imminent demise of the roadside scene, Mark is optimistic about their survival, at least in one shape or another, as he joked in our interview: “They absolutely are unique and I only mentioned a few! They will stand the test of time until the fall of the empire.”
So, how can you help keep the American legacy alive? Go out there and experience everything that the long American roads have to offer. And renting a car and just going exploring is the best way to go about it, as Mark explains. Either that, or calling him and booking a tour.
Speaking of Mark, here’s his Instagram where you can follow his adventures. But remember that this list is nowhere near the end, so keep on scrolling, and why not share some of your favorite roadside locations that are a must to visit in the comment section below!
Exploring the vastness of America through the lens of quirky roadside attractions is an adventure in itself. One timeless way these attractions have been preserved is through the lens of photographers like John Margolies, who devoted himself to capturing the essence of roadside America.
Finding out more about these charismatic places through photographers’ views complements how we perceive hidden gems on American highways.
