Roadside Attractions

Buckle up for an evocative journey down America’s most storied highways. Roadside Attractions celebrates the centennial of Route 66 and the enduring romance of the American road trip through the lenses of photographers who have wandered far beyond the primary routes. Established in 1926, Route 66 stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica, carving a sinuous path across New Mexico through Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, and Gallup. It became a ribbon of freedom after World War II, when newfound prosperity placed cars and cameras into the hands of countless Americans.

As travelers rolled westward, they encountered a vibrant roadside culture—giant fiberglass animals, hand-painted signs, kaleidoscopic neon, and improbable architectural marvels—each designed to catch the eye, spark curiosity, and entice a stop. These whimsical and sometimes surreal landmarks became waypoints in the mythology of American travel, immortalized in photographs that capture both the grit and glamour of the open road.

Featuring work by Nathan Benn, Steve Fitch, Miguel Gandert, Phyllis Jennings, Joan Myers, Joel Meyerowitz, and others, the exhibition invites visitors to rediscover the quirky beauty and cultural pulse of a highway that still lives in the American imagination.