John Margolies Roadside America Archive – Library of Congress – Southeast Nebraska Region – 1980 – 1993
From the Library of Congress:
The John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive is one of the most comprehensive documentary studies of vernacular commercial structures along main streets, byways, and highways throughout the United States in the twentieth century. Photographed over a span of forty years (1969-2008) by architectural critic and curator John Margolies (1940-2016), the collection consists of 11,710 color slides (35mm film transparencies).
Frequent subjects include restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, motels, signage, miniature golf courses, and beach and mountain vacation resorts. All 48 contiguous states are represented. The Library of Congress began to acquire portions of the archive in 2007, with the bulk of the materials arriving in 2015. These holdings form the core of what Margolies considered the exemplary images of his subject matter.
Margolies’ Roadside America work chronicled a period of American history defined by the automobile and the ease of travel it allowed. Emerging with the prosperity of the post-WWII era, roadside and commercial structures spread with the boom of suburbanization and the expansion of paved roads across the United States. Yet, in many instances, the only remaining record of these buildings is on Margolies’ film, because tourist architecture was endangered by the expansion of the interstate system and changing travel desires.
Margolies’ work was influential in the addition of roadside buildings to the National Register of Historic Places beginning in the late 1970s.
If you’d like to view the entire archive of other Nebraska towns and U. S. States or higher resolution available in TIFF file format you can access the John Margolies Roadside America Archive here.
https://www.loc.gov/search/?fa=contributor:margolies,+john
Towns of: Beatrice, Deshler, Fairbury, Lincoln, Omaha, Seward, Utica, Wahoo & York
A. J. Hale Block – Beatrice – 1982 
A. J. Hale Block – Beatrice – 1982 
White Elephant Exchange – Beatrice – 1982 
Paddock Hotel – Beatrice – 1982 
Paddock Hotel – Beatrice – 1982 
J. Schmuck Block – Beatrice – 1982 
408 Court Street – Beatrice – 1982 
409 Court Street – Beatrice – 1982 
Jim’s Little Bar – Beatrice – 1982 
Lang Block – Beatrice – 1982 
Lang Block – Beatrice – 1982 
301 Court Street – Mechanical Building – 1982 
Traubel’s Popcorn – Beatrice – 1982 
Traubel’s Popcorn – Beatrice – 1982 
Traubel’s Popcorn – Beatrice – 1982 
Cat’s Paw Shoe Service – Beatrice – 1982 
Randall & Sons Block – Beatrice – 1982 
Randall & Sons Block – Beatrice – 1982 
Maurstad-Zimmerman Insurance – Beatrice – 1982 
Barber Pole – 4th Street – Deshler – 1982 
Barbershop – 4th Street -Deshler – 1982 
Post Office – Fairbury – 1993 
4th & D Streets – Fairbury – 1993 
Chriopractic Clinic – Fairbury – 1993 
Amoco Gas Station – Lincoln – 1980 
Ress Block – Lincoln – 1980 
Tavern – O Street – For Sale – Lincoln – 1980 
Old Tavern on O Street – “For Rent” – Lincoln – 1980 
Earl O. Eager Block – Lincoln – 1980 
Hair Performers – O Street – Lincoln – 1980 
AmVets Community Thrift Store – Lincoln – 1980 
Brigham Block – Lincoln – 1980 
Star View Outdoor Drive-In Theatre – Lincoln – 1980 
Drive-In Theatre – Dodge Street – Omaha – 1980 
Golden Spike Drive-In Theatre – Omaha – 1980 
Bohemian Cafe – Omaha -1980 
For Rent – Dodge Street – Omaha – 1980 
Skip’s Skelly Service Station on 38th Street – Omaha – 1980 
Skip’s Skelly Service Station on 38th Street – Omaha – 1980 
Skip’s Skelly Station on 38th Street – Omaha – 1980 
Timmermann Block -13th Street – Omaha – 1980 
Farnam & 28th Streets – Omaha – 1980 
H & R Block – North 30th Street – Omaha – 1980 
Frosted Lion Antiques – Omaha – 1980 
Diamond Back Lounge – Omaha – 1980 
Norma Jean’s Beauty Supply – 30th Street – Omaha – 1980 
J. V. Vacek Block – 24th Street – Omaha – 1980 
Chops Bowling – S. 13th Street – Omaha – 1980 
Garage – 20th & Farnam Streets – Omaha – 1980 
Offutt Motel Motor Court – 1993 
Krogers Shoeland – Seward – 1980 
Ben Franklin Store – Seward – 1980 
For Sale – Seward – 1980 
Clock Face Pump – Utica – 1980 
Conoco Gas Pump – Route 34 – Utica – 1980 
Wahoo Bakery – 1980 
Chief Motel – Wahoo – 1980 
O K Market – Wahoo – 1980 
Chalet Beauty Boutique – York – 1980 
Omega Center – York – 1993 
Sun Theatre – York – 1980 
Sun Theatre – York – 1980