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- "Crouse's Motor Court- Five Minutes to Heart of City," Fort Dodge, Iowa, 1952 - This motor court was laid out like a veritable neighborhood of cottages, akin to the suburban streets of many of its customers. According to the postcard, the proprietor promised that each room was "100% modern" and had vented "Panel-Ray" heat. Cooking facilities were also available while a swing set out in the central courtyard provided a diversion for the kids.
- 1952
- Collections - Artifact
"Crouse's Motor Court- Five Minutes to Heart of City," Fort Dodge, Iowa, 1952
This motor court was laid out like a veritable neighborhood of cottages, akin to the suburban streets of many of its customers. According to the postcard, the proprietor promised that each room was "100% modern" and had vented "Panel-Ray" heat. Cooking facilities were also available while a swing set out in the central courtyard provided a diversion for the kids.
- "Olney's Camp on U.S. 80, Lordsburg, New Mexico," 1935 - The Texaco gas station was the focus of this postcard for Olney's Camp in Lordsburg, New Mexico. C.C. Olney, the proprietor, promised "reasonable prices" for a stay in his "strictly modern cabins." The cabins were connected to each other by garages for car parking. The architecture of Olney's Camp was Pueblo Revival, a popular style in the Southwest.
- 1935
- Collections - Artifact
"Olney's Camp on U.S. 80, Lordsburg, New Mexico," 1935
The Texaco gas station was the focus of this postcard for Olney's Camp in Lordsburg, New Mexico. C.C. Olney, the proprietor, promised "reasonable prices" for a stay in his "strictly modern cabins." The cabins were connected to each other by garages for car parking. The architecture of Olney's Camp was Pueblo Revival, a popular style in the Southwest.
- Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, circa 1962 - Howard Johnson's opened its first motor lodge in 1954. The company's owner began by selling high-butter fat ice cream in the 1920s, then expanded into full-service restaurants. The company produced this brochure to lure travelers passing through Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to stop and stay the night. Like other mid-20th-century lodging chains, Howard Johnson's provided moderately priced, comfortably furnished, and consistently managed facilities to the traveling public.
- circa 1962
- Collections - Artifact
Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, circa 1962
Howard Johnson's opened its first motor lodge in 1954. The company's owner began by selling high-butter fat ice cream in the 1920s, then expanded into full-service restaurants. The company produced this brochure to lure travelers passing through Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to stop and stay the night. Like other mid-20th-century lodging chains, Howard Johnson's provided moderately priced, comfortably furnished, and consistently managed facilities to the traveling public.
- Holiday Inn, Effingham, Illinois, 1961 - The big, bright Holiday Inn sign was designed to catch the attention of speeding motorists in the days before freeway exit signs listed lodging choices. This postcard from about 1962 shows the location of the Holiday Inn at Effingham, Illinois, in relation to the highway.
- 1961
- Collections - Artifact
Holiday Inn, Effingham, Illinois, 1961
The big, bright Holiday Inn sign was designed to catch the attention of speeding motorists in the days before freeway exit signs listed lodging choices. This postcard from about 1962 shows the location of the Holiday Inn at Effingham, Illinois, in relation to the highway.
- Ivory Soap, Complimentary Size, from Colonial Courts, 1940-1959 -
- 1940-1959
- Collections - Artifact
Ivory Soap, Complimentary Size, from Colonial Courts, 1940-1959
- Matchbook Cover, Old West Motel, Las Vegas, Nevada, circa 1950 - Motel advertisements on small give away items reminded travelers of their stay. Forgetful travelers to the Old West Motel could remember the name of the motel by looking at one side of the matchbook. And then turn it over to remember that they had "Lots of Fun! at Las Vegas."
- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Matchbook Cover, Old West Motel, Las Vegas, Nevada, circa 1950
Motel advertisements on small give away items reminded travelers of their stay. Forgetful travelers to the Old West Motel could remember the name of the motel by looking at one side of the matchbook. And then turn it over to remember that they had "Lots of Fun! at Las Vegas."
- Conley's Motel Drinking Glass, 1950-1970 - Conley's Motels consisted of five different motels located at Pennsylvania Turnpike interchanges. Each motel, though unique in design, had several common features: a swimming pool, dining room with cocktail lounge, coffee shop, playground, and "ultramodern" rooms with TV, telephones, heat, air-conditioning, and carpeting. These motels belonged to the Superior Motel Referral Chain, promising certain standards and sharing a reservation system.
- 1950-1970
- Collections - Artifact
Conley's Motel Drinking Glass, 1950-1970
Conley's Motels consisted of five different motels located at Pennsylvania Turnpike interchanges. Each motel, though unique in design, had several common features: a swimming pool, dining room with cocktail lounge, coffee shop, playground, and "ultramodern" rooms with TV, telephones, heat, air-conditioning, and carpeting. These motels belonged to the Superior Motel Referral Chain, promising certain standards and sharing a reservation system.
- Postcard, "Cactus Motor Lodge," Tucumcari, New Mexico, circa 1947 - Federal Highway 66 (more commonly known as Route 66) was established in 1926, and it spanned 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. The Cactus Motor Lodge, built in Tucumcari, New Mexico, in 1941, was a welcome sight to weary travelers driving west from Texas. Rooms boasted "New Mexico's finest steam heat," box springs, and carpeting.
- circa 1947
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Cactus Motor Lodge," Tucumcari, New Mexico, circa 1947
Federal Highway 66 (more commonly known as Route 66) was established in 1926, and it spanned 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. The Cactus Motor Lodge, built in Tucumcari, New Mexico, in 1941, was a welcome sight to weary travelers driving west from Texas. Rooms boasted "New Mexico's finest steam heat," box springs, and carpeting.
- Motel 6 Complimentary Bar Soap, 1980-1999 - Motel 6 is a budget motel chain founded in Santa Barbara, California, in 1962 by two local building contractors: William Becker and Paul Greene. Their idea was to charge six dollars a room per night, offering a "no-frills" experience -- including coin-operated black-and-white TV. Room rates have risen with competition and inflation, but they are still lower than other national chains.
- 1980-1999
- Collections - Artifact
Motel 6 Complimentary Bar Soap, 1980-1999
Motel 6 is a budget motel chain founded in Santa Barbara, California, in 1962 by two local building contractors: William Becker and Paul Greene. Their idea was to charge six dollars a room per night, offering a "no-frills" experience -- including coin-operated black-and-white TV. Room rates have risen with competition and inflation, but they are still lower than other national chains.
- Directory of Motel 6 Locations, Georgia, 1986 - Motel 6 is a budget motel chain founded in Santa Barbara, California, in 1962 by two local building contractors: William Becker and Paul Greene. Their idea was to charge six dollars a room per night, offering a "no-frills" experience -- including coin-operated black-and-white TV. Room rates have risen with competition and inflation, but they are still lower than other national chains.
- 1986
- Collections - Artifact
Directory of Motel 6 Locations, Georgia, 1986
Motel 6 is a budget motel chain founded in Santa Barbara, California, in 1962 by two local building contractors: William Becker and Paul Greene. Their idea was to charge six dollars a room per night, offering a "no-frills" experience -- including coin-operated black-and-white TV. Room rates have risen with competition and inflation, but they are still lower than other national chains.