Drawn the Road Again

Category: Built to Last

  • Fiberglass fräulein

    Fiberglass fräulein

    As I’ve already written before, one of my ongoing road trip checklists includes the various Muffler Men scattered around the country. But one thing I hadn’t yet been able to add to the list is the Muffler Man’s sister, the Uniroyal Gal. Another early-1960s creation of the International Fiberglass Company in California, rumor has it…

  • Lumberjacks of 66

    Lumberjacks of 66

    This post is part of an ongoing series called 66 Fridays, which explores the wonders of old Route 66. Click on the preceding “66 Fridays” link to view all posts in the series, or visit the initial overview post here. Since Route 66 passes through the Great Plains and the Desert Southwest, and not at…

  • The proof is in the pavement

    The proof is in the pavement

    This post is part of an ongoing series called 66 Fridays, which explores the wonders of old Route 66. Click on the preceding “66 Fridays” link to view all posts in the series, or visit the initial overview post here. It’s easy to take for granted the fact that the American West is crisscrossed with…

  • Crescent City crest

    Crescent City crest

    Speaking of Crescent City icons, in my humble opinion there is no finer example of utilitarian design anywhere. It’s been a long time since the era when “municipal” could be synonymous with “beautiful,” but the fact that these little meter box covers are still so famous and beloved today gives me hope. With any luck, other cities…

  • A street corner named desire

    A street corner named desire

    People like to categorize cities by things like food, or architecture, or climate, or whatever. Me? I like to categorize places by their signature style of lettering. So if I want midcentury neon Googie script, I might look along Route 66. For a good all-purpose wild-west Clarendon, look no further than Wall Drug. But if I want beautiful…

  • Ranch to table

    Ranch to table

    This post is part of an ongoing series called 66 Fridays, which explores the wonders of old Route 66. Click on the preceding “66 Fridays” link to view all posts in the series, or visit the initial overview post here. When it comes to road food along Route 66, sometimes a hot dog just doesn’t…

  • Griddle-r on the roof

    Griddle-r on the roof

    Well, I guess if you sell hot dogs, it’s pretty hard to compete with the frankfurter meccas of Chicago and New York, where they have mastered every wiener gimmick known to man. Still, if you set up shop in a small town like Lindstrom, Minnesota, you don’t exactly have to work too hard to stand…

  • Dog days

    Dog days

    This post is part of an ongoing series called 66 Fridays, which explores the wonders of old Route 66. Click on the preceding “66 Fridays” link to view all posts in the series, or visit the initial overview post here. Okay, I’m starting this post with a few sketches that are not on Route 66,…

  • (Dairy) king of the road

    (Dairy) king of the road

    This post is part of an ongoing series called 66 Fridays, which explores the wonders of old Route 66. Click on the preceding “66 Fridays” link to view all posts in the series, or visit the initial overview post here. If you happen to drive Route 66 in the summer, like we did, you might…

  • Roadside ziggurat

    Roadside ziggurat

    This post is part of an ongoing series called 66 Fridays, which explores the wonders of old Route 66. Click on the preceding “66 Fridays” link to view all posts in the series, or visit the initial overview post here. Here’s a unique one. If you drive Route 66 through the seemingly unending sprawl of…