This week the Library of Congress published well over 10,000 vintage photographs of classically American roadsigns and storefronts. Photographer John Margolies captured the pictures while on long, cross-country journeys along U.S. highways.
Margolies took his 35 mm camera to Florida between 1979 and 1990, where he photographed gas stations, storefronts, boardwalks, billboards and hotels. Many of the photographs are within the Tampa Bay area. Since the photos are public domain, Creative Loafing Tampa selected a few of our favorite, outlandish attractions.
Just as Andy Warhol celebrated everyday products, Margolies captures and celebrates ubiquitous, American signage and storefronts all across the United States. Dairy Quick, once on Tampa’s Nebraska Avenue, is gone but its sign will forever be immortalized thanks to Margolies.
This collection begins in the Tampa Bay area, before branching out to the rest of the state from Jacksonville to North Miami Beach. Included in the captions are links to the Library of Congress photo page, readers can find more about each photograph. Much of the eccentric signage featured in the slideshow has yet to be demolished.
— Christopher Cann
Heart’s Desire Motel sign, Dunedin, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveHarold’s Auto Center, Route 19, Spring Hill, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveDrive-in cinema (church), Route 19, Pinellas Park, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveDrive-in cinema, Route 19, Pinellas Park, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveUnited Furniture Sales teepee, Pinellas Park, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveHurricane Lounge, Pinellas Park, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveYbor City Tourist Info, Tampa, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveEl Rancho Motel Court sign, Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveTampa Veterinary Hospital, Tampa, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveRutland Office Building, St. Petersburg, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveTramor Cafeteria sign, St. Petersburg, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveHoliday Motel, St. Petersburg, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveBallard Hotel Apartments, St. Petersburg, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveTraymore Cafeteria, 2nd Avenue & 4th Street, St. Petersburg, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveSandman Motel sign, Route 19, St. Petersburg, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveTrail Drive-In Theater ticket booth, Route 41, Sarasota, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveDog n Suds sign, Route 19A, Dunedin, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveEast Bay Motel sign, Route 41, Gibsonton, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveOld Publix Super Market, Haines City, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveDairy Quick ice cream sign, Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveDaytona Theater, Beach Street, Daytona Beach, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveDrive-in Theater, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveJenkins’ Quality Barbecue, Main Street, Jacksonville, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveRandy’s Campus Theater, Route 90, Tallahassee, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchivePasco Theater, S. 7th Street, Dade City, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveStamie’s Beachwear Jantzen sign, Ocean Avenue, Daytona Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archiveorange bird statue, Route A1A, Hammock, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveRoadside flamingo statue, Frog City, Route 41, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveRipley’s Believe It or Not billboard, Route A1A, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveGoofy Golf, Panama City Beach, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveVandalism sign and Italy, Joyland Golf, Daytona Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveMagic Carpet Golf, Route 98, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveSouvenir Citrus Stand, Oak Hill, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveJose Gaspar Treasure Co., Flagler Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveFountain of Youth billboard, Route A1A, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveHeadless statue, Marineland, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveGatorland, Route 1, St. Augustine, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveGator Jungle, Route 50, Christmas, Florida (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveManny’s Alligator Center, Route 1, Oak Hill, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveOld Jail billboard, Route A1A, St. Augustine, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveFrolics Motel sign, Route 1, Miami, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveColonial Motel statue, Sunny Isles, North Miami Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveBetts Truckstop sign, Route 19, Chiefland, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveStafford TV Service, 22nd Street and Pearl, Jacksonville, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveCoca Cola Bottling Co., Key West, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveWinn Dixie Super Market, Jacksonville, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveMartin Theater, Panama City, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveGulf Gas, Miami, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveCotton Motor Co. sign, Sebastian, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveVero Drive-In, Vero Beach, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveMarineland, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveCoral Castle, Homestead, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveOne hour photo, Key West, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveHouse of Moy Lee Chin Restaurant, Miami Beach, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveParson’s Restaurant, Mayport, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveThe Trolly Frozen Kustard, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveCarvel ice cream stand, West Palm Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveGary’s Ice Cream, Jacksonville, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveFountainhead Motel, North Miami Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveSpanish Trail Motel sign, Pensacola, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveMarian Apartments, Hollywood Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveRayzelle Apartments, Miami Beach, Fla. (1980)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveClock tower, Daytona Beach, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveBoardwalk, Daytona Beach, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveAmphitheater, Daytona Beach, Fla. (1979)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveAmerican Red Cross, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveChamber of Commerce and Historical Museum, Islamorada, Fla. (1985)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph ArchiveTasty Burger Restaurant sign, Bonifay, Fla. (1990)
Photo via John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive
