Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
February 1942. "Shannon County, Missouri. Gas station and tourist cabins." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size.
The left pump bears a globe that says "Sinclair - Pennant". If one searches for "Pennant motor oil" most results will show "Pierce Pennant motor oil". The Pierce Oil Corporation went out of business in 1940 and was then acquired by Sinclair Oil. So I suppose the "Pennant" brand was taken over by Sinclair at that moment.
[Sinclair and Pierce Petroleum merged in 1930. "Pennant" was Sinclair's designation for the cheapest of its three grades of gasoline. - Dave]
This looks like one of those Magic Eye images. I'm sure there's a gas station in there somewhere, but my eyes can't focus well enough to see it!
All I can think of is the enormity of all that arachnid habitat!
From the days of roadside wigwams, windmills, dinosaurs, elephants, giant boots and blue oxen, another attempt to tap into America on the move. Speed limits were leisurely and there was no concern for the infrequency of exit ramps. But if you want people to stop, you have to put yourself out there. But the landscape is changing: gas rationing, Eisenhower's Interstate System, Stuckey's, HoJo's.
Crazy Cabin Inn does have charm. It also looks like a maintenance nightmare.
When do you think it burned down?
I would love to see this in color. Better yet, in person. The proprietor must have a very colorful, creative, meticulous and interesting individual.
There must be some Sinclair Dinosaurs hiding in this photo, I just haven't spotted them yet. I'm sure some sharp-eyed Shorpy-viewer will, unless of course they perished ...
means "Houston Concentrate," not High Compression.
This thing is garish even in B&W!
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5