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Documenting One of America’s Relics: The Rest Stop

Photographer Ryann Ford is on a mission to document a dying breed of architecture: the American roadside rest stop. Since more and more gas stations, convenient stores and fast food joints popping up right off the highways, rest stops are beginning to become contemporary relics. Over the past five years, Ryann has been driving all over the country documenting them to make sure we never forget about this unique and almost invisible pieces of architecture.

She’s already visited and shot over 150 rest stops, learning about their rich history beyond just being a convenient bathroom! They typically represent their local culture and attractions. But what happens when they disappear?

When interstate highways were first built, passing up many small towns, rest stops were a way to reconnect people to the places they were traveling though. They gave small towns a chance to show their cultural significance.

Rest areas have become relics of America’s roadside past. These sites not only illustrate a unique period in the American travel experience, but are significant for the architectural forms found within them.

Petrified Forest, AZ

Petrified Forest, AZ

Galveston, TX

Galveston, TX

Clines Corners, NM

Clines Corners, NM

Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ

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I think this is going to be an awesome book!

Big Bend, TX

Big Bend, TX

Flower Mound, TX

Flower Mound, TX

Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, NM

You can back this project and pre-order a copy of the book on Kickstarter.

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk, is a Jersey girl living in SoCal. She dreams about funky, artistic jewelry + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, making music, and drawing.