shooshee

notel motel

Before Interstate 35 was completed in the 1960s (the formal opening of Interstate 35 in Austin took place in 1962), Congress Avenue was the major highway to reach Austin from the south.

Development in South Austin increased substantially with the advent of the automobile in the 1910s and 1920s and automobile-oriented businesses such as tourist courts, restaurants and service stations began to line the street. These businesses thrived throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s until tourist-related business was slowly siphoned to the new Interstate. By the 1960s, many of the older highway oriented businesses on South Congress had closed. (source)

In November, 2006, I originally set out to document these as a 120 Challenge, 1 roll of 120 film in 120 minutes. I wanted to shoot it on my Holga to give it a little bit more of that nostalgic feel thinking I could find 12 great old signs on South Congress. Well there weren’t 12. I found a few more thru Austin, then gave up, leaving the film in the camera until July, 2008 when I settled for a few more newer signs to finish the roll.

I did a little bit of research on each sign and motel to try and learn a little more about these fantastic pieces of Austin history (click the photos to view them individually and learn what I learned.). I hope you enjoy these.