- Photographer and architecture critic John Margolies spent 40 years documenting quirky and whimsical roadside attractions across the United States.
- Between 1972 and 2008, he captured a total of 11,710 images, which are now available under the public domain through the Library of Congress.
- Margolies photographed everything from diners to motels to billboards, but took special interest in fast-disappearing gas stations built during the "glory days" of road travel in the early 20th century.
- Business Insider combed through Margolies' archive to find the most architecturally interesting gas and auto repair stations still around today.
- From a dinosaur shed to a teapot dome, here are 6 of the most eye-catching vintage service stations you can still visit in the US.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
1. Harold's Auto Center in Spring Hill, Florida
Story: Built in 1964, this former Sinclair gas station has a 47-foot tall, 110-foot long dinosaur as a roof. Harold's Auto Center, a family owned-and-operated business, took over the building in 1977. "Although we are inside a Dinosaur we stay up to date with what your vehicle needs!" they write on their website. Roadside America made a point to note that Dino's eyes "look like giant olives."
Location: 5299 Commercial Way on Route 19 near Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Source: Library of Congress
2. Hat n' Boots Gas Station in Seattle, Washington
Story: Artist Lewis Nasmyth designed this western-style gas station featuring a 44-foot cowboy hat and 22-foot-tall cowboy boots in 1953, according to Seattle Parks and Recreation. The station opened in 1954 and drew "a stampede of customers" up until the early 60s when a new interstate changed traffic routes. Roadside America reports that each of the two boots served as men's and women's bathrooms. The station closed in 1988, but the City of Seattle embarked on a restoration project and moved the landmark to Oxbow Park in 2003.
Location: Oxbow Park, 6427 Carleton Avenue South
Source: Library of Congress
3. Teapot Dome in Zillah, Washington
Story: Architect James Ainsworth built this 15-foot Tea Pot Dome Service Station in 1922. According to the City of Zillah, he drew inspiration from the ongoing Teapot Dome Scandal, which exposed bribery and the secret leasing of federal oil reserves by the William Harding administration to oil barons. The teapot is now a visitor's center and sits in Teapot Dome Memorial Park.
Location: 117 First Avenue
Source: Library of Congress
4. The World's Largest Redwood Tree Service Station in Ukiah, California
Story: Redwood Tree Service Station, originally called the "World's Largest Redwood Tree Service Station," dates back to 1936. Its main building is built out of the stump of a 1,500-year-old redwood tree from a nearby forest. The service station has been in continuous operation since the 1930s, though it no longer pumps gas. The stump is now a museum with automotive relics and vintage photographs, according to the company's website.
Location: 859 N State St
Source: Library of Congress
5. The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock, Teas
Story: This former Fina gas station's most notable feature is a four-sided obelisk topped with a metal tulip. The station dates back to 1936 and and is known officially as The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café. Though its red-white-and-blue paint has been removed to reveal light pink concrete, the Tower Station has otherwise remained unchanged. The building, which included a café and retail space, now operates as a visitor center, chamber of commerce office, and community center, according to the National Park Service.
Location: 101 East 12th Street at the intersection of US Highway 83 and Route 66
Source: Library of Congress
6. The Delta Queen Car Wash in Campbell, California
Story: The Delta Queen Car Wash in California dates back more than 50 years and resembles an old paddle wheel riverboat, one you might see on the Mississippi. "The riverside theme is extended with wooden plankways and a water feature," Roadside America writes. "There's a coffee shop, and a gift store with a carp tank. It's next to a Hooters... what more could you ask for in a car wash?
Location: 981 East Hamilton Ave
Source: Library of Congress