"The story of America's motels begins, as travel journalist Ellie Seymour reminds readers, exactly a century ago in 1925, when architect Arthur Heineman opened the Milestone Mo-Tel in San Luis Obispo, California. The term 'motel' itself was born out of necessity, as 'Milestone Motor Hotel' simply didn't fit on the rooftop sign. Offering private garages and hot showers, it catered to the rise of automobile tourism and set the blueprint for a phenomenon that would flourish after World War II."
"The premise of the book was sparked by a passage from Bill Bryson's Notes from a Big Country (1998), in which the author declares, 'I love everything about motels. I can't help myself. I still get excited every time I slip a key into a motel room door and fling it open.' For Seymour, this sentiment opened the door to a deeper fascination with America's roadside culture."
Forty mid-century motels across the United States have been restored into contemporary boutique hotels that retain historic roadside character. Restorations range from revived neon signage to minimalist reinterpretations that honor classic Americana. Examples include The Pearl (Florida), Skyview (California), Hotel Lucine (Texas), and The Dive (Nevada). The motel phenomenon began in 1925 with Arthur Heineman's Milestone Mo-Tel in San Luis Obispo, which introduced private garages and hot showers to serve automobile tourists. These motels reflect small architectural experiments fueled by postwar optimism and continue to symbolize freedom, anonymity, and the golden age of American car travel.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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