— Tulsa's Historic Route 66 —

As automobiles became a popular mode of travel for
leisure-seekers, early "auto-enthusiasts" camped along the
roadside or in organized tourist campgrounds. Beginning in
the 1920s, motor courts and motels developed along busier
highways to provide affordable accommodations for families
and individuals. Typically located outside of city centers, the
motor hotel included rows of freestanding cabins or attached
rooms arranged around a courtyard. The motel was often
one part of a larger complex that also included a restaurant,
a service station, and sometimes a swimming pool.
There was ample parking in front of each room or
sometimes in an attached garage.

The number of roadside motels soared through the 1930s
and again after World War Il, following the rise in automobile
ownership. As Americans enjoyed the prosperity and
freedom of the post-war period, the number of motels in the
United States quadrupled.

To attract customers, motel operators erected giant signs to
catch the attention of travelers. Typically an elaborate neon
display helped to communicate the motel's quality and range
of services.

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