Programs and Events
"American Roadside Architecture" Exhibit Opening at Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry
August 28, 2008
Acting Principal Officer Sandra Oudkirk and Nihat Balkan, Secretary-General of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, opened an exhibit of 56 of Jonathan Margolies’ famous photos of American roadside installations from the 1940s and 50s at the American Corner located at the Chamber. The exhibit, which will run through September 18, shows photos that tell the story of how the advent of the automobile revolutionized the American landscape and allowed millions of Americans to discover the country in their cars. The gas stations, restaurants and hotels, that sprung up across America to support these travelers were distinctive and individualistic roadside structures, often with huge signs, competing for the attention of customers passing by in their new cars. The results were some of the most creative, whimsical structures in American architectural history. To this day, many Americans are nostalgic about these roadside attractions and remember specific ones that remind them of pleasant family road trips in years gone by. The exhibit is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and has been seen in over 40 countries since 2004.