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From Flame to Flicker: Inside a Working Neon Shop

You walk into a neon shop expecting nostalgia. You leave thinking about chemistry, electricity, municipal zoning codes, and 1940s craftsmanship. That’s what happened when I toured Morry’s Neon, a family business opened in 1985 by Morry and his son Glen, a business built on a neon legacy that began in 1946 when Morry first started bending glass. Established the same year America decided diners, drive-ins, and optimism were perfectly reasonable things to mass-produce, Morry’s has

Route 66 at 100: Why the Centennial Is Igniting a New Era of Retro Road Trips

As the Route 66 Centennial approaches, something interesting is happening. This isn’t just an anniversary tour or a nostalgia lap. It’s a full-scale reawakening of interest in the American road trip—one rooted in history, preservation, and the lived experience of the road itself. The centennial is acting like a spotlight, illuminating not just the highway, but the stories, architecture, roadside culture, and communities that grew up along it. And people are paying attention. Travelers want

Los Angeles Potteries: A Whimsical Walk Through Mid-Century Ceramic Dreams

From our retro coffee table to yours comes a great book – an awesome gift or something to pour over in our own home! Suppose you’ve ever spotted a cookie jar shaped like a hamburger or a canister set with tropical fruit motifs and thought, “I remember that design!” or “I have to have that design!”. In that case, you’ll want to get your hands on Los Angeles Potteries: A Collector’s Journey through Artistry, Craft,

El Cortez Hotel: Where Vintage Vegas Still Lives

Opened in 1941, the El Cortez Hotel & Casino is one of Las Vegas’s oldest operating casinos — and one of its most authentic. In a city obsessed with reinvention, the El Cortez is a rare survivor, maintaining its vintage spirit while still feeling alive and relevant. Preservation That Matters In 2013, the El Cortez earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s easy to see why. The building’s Spanish Colonial

Decorating the kid’s rooms with Mid-Century Style!

Mid-century is a design style that may seem boring to your kids because it’s all about simplicity and minimalism. However, there are many interactive furniture additions that can help you stick with the mid-century motif while keeping your children’s rooms fun. When designing children’s rooms, you must take safety and durability into consideration. What might work for your master bedroom might not work for your kids’ space. Instead of using glass, stick to plastic and

Women’s Day 50’s interior

Welcome to Mid-Century Photo Friday – if you’ve never found it before, this is a great time to join! My post is a follow up to last week’s post about a $7600 3 bedroom house featured in this 1958 issue of Women’s Day – and here (drum-roll please) is the interior: I adore the chairs and the colors are great – your favorite part? Now here’s the fun! I’ve searched forever to find a way

Preserving a Piece of American History: Inside Las Vegas’ Mob Museum

Tucked away in downtown Las Vegas, The Mob Museum—formerly known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement—offers more than just a glimpse into criminal history. It’s also a powerful example of historic preservation done right. Housed in a striking 1933 neoclassical courthouse (originally a U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse), the building is a rare survivor from an era when clean lines, bold function, and civic pride defined public architecture. Its marble

A Route 66 Preservation Project needs help

From the “Save the Boots Motel Facebook page” The National Park Service, Route 66 Corridor Grant Program awarded the historic Boots Motel owners in Carthage, MO. a matching grant in 2012 to remove the 1978 roof addition and restore the structure to it’s original appearance, and qualify this venerable Route 66 Icon’s placement on the National Register of Historical Places. The “Raze the Roof” fundraising effort is underway and the Volunteer event to remove the