Backroads Buildings

From New England to the Deep South, photographers Susan Daley and Steve Gross have captured more than 100 forgotten buildings along America's old auto routes. Isolated in full-color and black-and-white portraits, the roadside cafes, feed stores, grange halls, juke joints, and general stores are a poignant reminder of the ingenuity of local building practices and working-class culture during the years between the Civil War and the Great Depression. With their humble beauty and distinctive character, these once-useful structures infuse the American landscape with a strong sense of place. This collection of buildings preserves a sampling of our country's architecture heritage and encourages travelers to slow down and notice the details.