Roadside America

Roadside America. . , Before the advent of the interstate highway system and modern hotel chains, travelers often had to sleep along the side of the road in their cars. Beginning just prior to 1920, travel courts and tourist camps began to appear and offered a warm, dry place to sleep for a dollar or two a night. Clusters of cabins like these grew in popularity until modern motel chains began appearing in the early 1950's. These cabins, part of a group of six, were located near here on US Highway 6 in Butler, Indiana., In the early days of motoring, gasoline was only available at pharmacies, blacksmith shops, and general stores. As automobiles became more common, small, purpose built service stations, such as this Gulf Station, began to appear to accommodate traveler's needs for gasoline, oil, tires, and repairs. These simple one room structures became quite common by the 1930's, and remained in service well into the 1950's, when they were replaced by larger, more modern filling stations. This filling station appears as it Would have in the mid 1930's. The interior was restored by volunteer, Scott Armstrong.