Photographer wants to document America’s neon signs

San Diego photographer Stefanie Poteet is traveling all over the United States the next four months so she can artistically document vintage neon signs, including on Route 66.

Here’s the video that comes with her Kickstarter fundraiser:

Poteet writes about her quest:

These signs and the places they were built for are an integral part of our history. Mom and pop motels, one of a kind diners and family owned businesses built this nation. They gave us reasons to explore Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, the Tamiami Trail.

These signs are beautiful and unique. They are art and hard work and hours of labor. These signs matter, and they are quickly disappearing from our landscape.

I want to encourage people to see, appreciate and preserve these pieces of Americana. I want to document as many signs as possible before they are lost from our roadsides and our memories. I want to spend 112 days chasing neon so future generations can stand in front of places like the Blue Swallow Motel and stare in awe.

Poteet said she fell in love with neon sign after seeing the Supai Motel sign on Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona.

Poteet hopes to raise $10,000 by July 22 to help cover some of her expenses. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and her blog.

6 thoughts on “Photographer wants to document America’s neon signs

  1. I am happy to hear that someone so young has found a passion for things so old. I also believe neon is important to capture in photos. I took saw a few of the signs she showed but it takes dedication and patience to stop at all of them.

  2. So excited about this concept! I truly hope her dream and the book becomes a reality! Perhaps she could pursue modest donation from the businesses whose neon will be featured…. I would venture that $100 contribution would be affordable to most businesses, and certainly would go towards recouping her costs. Couldn’t hurt to ask! 🙂

  3. Well — those businesses that are still open, anyway! Great video, by the way. I would buy this book in a heartbeat, again, such a great concept!

  4. Definitely a worthwhile project. Recording roadside icons is always a good thing and doing it in an organized manner with enthusiasm even more so. I wish Stephanie great success and have joined, in a very small way, her Kickstarter project. But I’d also like folks to take note of the somewhat similar documentation Debra Jane Seltzer has undertaken over the last several years. It’s all been essentially on her nickles though she very much appreciates any gas money sent her way.
    https://www.agilitynut.com/roadside.html

    1. Hi Denny, thank you so much for your support and your donation to the project! I too believe it is worthwhile and hope my photography will benefit Route 66 and other icons of Americana for years to come.

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