Stopping for the Night: The Development of Roadside Lodging from Motor Camping to Motel Chains
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This presentation will discuss where automobile travelers stopped for the night, examining the progression of roadside lodging starting with the motor camping movement of the 1920s, taking a look at what equipment was carried and the development of roadside camps. The transition to quaint roadside cabin courts will follow, with that era being examined in terms of architectural styles as well as the amenities these enterprises offered. The subsequent transition from cabin courts to more modern motels will then be discussed, wrapping up with a look at some early motels and the post-war roadside business model of the motel chains.
Daniel Hershberger
For nearly five decades, Daniel Hershberger has been involved in the research of the American roadside. He has taught roadside history courses at colleges, universities and for the Henry Ford Museum. Over the years, he has made many presentations at conferences, museums, and the centennial celebrations of both the Lincoln Highway Association and the Tin Can Tourists. Hershberger once served as President of the Society for Commercial Archeology, the oldest national organization devoted to the commercial-built environment, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Tin Can Tourists’ Hall of Fame.