The Link Network

Architects:

Richard and Dion Neutra Architecture The firm, now 75 years old, continues its work in Silver Spring, California. There is a register for owners of Neutra-designed structures and regular updates regarding the preservation of Neutra buildings.

Arizona:

modern.design. A Guide to Mid-Century Architecture: Phoenix, Arizona

Drive-Ins:

Drive-Ins.com "The definitive source for Drive-In information." Database search and clickable map to help you find local drive-in resources.

Googie & Coffee Shops:

America's Landmark: Under the Orange Roof. A HoJo's fan site. "This site commemorates the Roadside Empire created by Howard D. Johnson, and chronicles with photographs and commentary the story of a once vast organization and its legacy to the American roadscape, and to the hospitality industry."

Roadside Peek: Preservation Alley. A very cool site listing endangered roadside, Googie, and coffee shop architecture. Check it out! Don't forget to surf through the rest of the site as well--very comprehensive.

Doo Wop Preservation League. The DWPL educational mission is to foster awareness and appreciation of the popular culture and imagery of the 1950's and 1960's and to promote the preservation of the largest collection of Doo Wop architecture found in the United States.

Googie Architecture On-Line. An excellent site defining and illustrating "Googie." Compiled and managed by Chris Jepsen in a commendable quest to "build a record of Space Age architecture that will last for generations to come."

HoJoLand. A HoJo's fan site. "HoJoLand...Open 24 Hours, 7 Days A Week, serving up memories and the latest news on HoJo's Restaurants and Ice Cream."

Howard Johnson's Restaurants & Ice Cream The official site of HoJo's. Good information here.

Stuck on Stuckeys. American roadside Pecan Shoppe's dating from 1937. Comprehensive fan site with location maps plus a gallery compilation attempting to "catalog and offer for viewing an image of every possible Stuckey's store that ever existed."

Grocery Stores:

Neon:

Museum of Neon Art. "The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) is a non-profit, cultural and educational organization which exhibits, documents and preserves contemporary fine art in electric media and outstanding examples of neon signs. Founded in 1981, MONA is the only permanent institution of its kind in the world."

Motels & Resorts:

John's Modern Cabins. John's Modern Cabins began as part of a somewhat seedy juke joint known as Bill and Bess's Place. Six tiny log cabins flanked a shotgun-shack dance hall that in the 1930s was home to music, merriment. Now the cabins may be torn down soon. This site documents, encourages, and coordinates preservation efforts.

Del Parker's Parkerosa: Tourist Cabins, Trailer Park and Wigwam Accommodations. Fan site for the loyal--you never knew there were so many wigwams on the roadside. Helpful location map.

Agua Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico. A Spanish Colonial-revival resort designed by 19-year old architect, and San Diego native, Wayne McAllister. Be sure to check out the 150-foot tall smokestack disguised as a Moroccan minaret! By Chris Nichols, our RPPN Southern California rep. and dedicated preservation activist.

Neon Motels:

Motels of the Southwest. "This website is dedicated to the celebration of the classic American neon motel. On this site you will find several resources for vintage neon motels and signs from the American Southwest." By Douglas Towne.

Roadside:

RoadsideAmerica.com Your on-line guide to offbeat tourist attractions.

John's Modern Cabins News. A Chronicle of Historic Preservation Efforts on Route 66, "The Main Street of America." This web site was begun to spread news about an endangered tourist court called John's Modern Cabins, the ruins of which are located alongside Interstate 44 in Newburg, Missouri. I have since expanded the site in an attempt to document and encourage preservation efforts all along Historic Route 66. If you have any news, opinions, photos, link suggestions, or any useful information to share, please contact editor Carolyn Hasenfratz.

Shopping Malls:

Deadmalls.com. An excellent site with a mall "dictionary," site locater, and redevelopment solutions. Composed by two die-hard fans of shopping mall history.

Suburbs:

The Eichler Network. "Since 1993, the Eichler Network has been dedicated to supporting the lifestyle of the nearly 11,000 folks in Northern California who own an "Eichler" home. Eichlers are the innovative, Modernist-designed homes that were created by merchant builder Joseph Eichler between 1949 and the early 1970s."

Visitor Centers:

Mission 66: Modern Architecture in the National Parks. "Mission 66 was a federally-sponsored program to improve deteriorated and dangerous conditions in the national parks, the result of a massive visitor boom after World War II. Building projects began in 1956 and ended in 1966. During those ten years, more than $1 billion was spent on infrastructure and other improvements in the parks. Approximately 100 new visitor centers were built during the ten-year program. Mission 66 visitor centers have been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places as significant historic structures and as important representatives of a new building type. Many are now endangered by new development in the parks." By Christine Madrid.

"Lost" Sites:

Lost America. "Come with me to where the dry Mojave night wind sucks the moisture from your eyes and blows 5 year old newspapers around your legs. To where the the stars pinwheel over your head and the sage whispers thousand year old stories in your ears. Come with me to the land of broken dreams and forgotten futures. This is where you'll find a collection of night photography of the abandoned roadside west. Remember, none of this work is manipulated in the darkroom or the computer. It was all done in camera." Great collection of images including drive-ins and other mid-century ruins.

Lost Disney: Yesterland. "A theme park on the web featuring discontinued Disneyland attractions."

Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions. Tourist attractions have a way of springing up on the Florida roadside like wildflowers -- or litter: bright, shiny and full of hope to begin with, only to wither and die when they just can't quite sustain the magic. You will find no historical marker to mark their passing, no footnote in the history book, only the occasional exotic plant, or shopping center, or oddly named road. Memory soon dims and they are forgotten, lingering only as a trace of a reminiscence. I'm creating this site as an homage to the diversity that was Florida tourism...Latest addition: the Miami Wax Museum, mentioned in Umberto Eco's Travels in Hyperreality (1991).

Lost Indiana. "Indiana’s history has always been closely linked to agriculture - a tradition that continues today. However, at one time Indiana was the center of population for the United States - and great industrial institutions grew up from the farmland. Indiana is a vibrant state, with much to offer the visitor or resident, and a bright future in the new century. But as time marches forward, echoes of the past are still spread across the landscape. These pages chronicle my continuing desire to snapshot these markers of our history before they fade forever into dust."

Lost Nevada. "The Great State of Nevada, as it was referred to the last time I was in court, has recently been in a hurry to relinquish its smoky past of hard liquor, neon and lounge acts to make way for family oriented amusement parks. Someone needs to remember that Golden Age of Lounge, and remember we do. Well, not really, we were born too late. Much of what we are documenting here has been dismissed as "bad taste" and thus expendable. What we hope to share with you is our dedication to the Lounge Lifestyle, and the pictures we have taken along the way. We have also included a page dedicated to Elvis and his ultimate demise. For when the King died, part of our Nevada myth was indeed lost..."

Discussion Boards

• Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee Message Board. Post questions and inquiries on this open web forum. A great place to share ideas and talk to others about the recent past. The Modern Committee's focus is 20th century architecture and related fields which reflect the heritage of Modernism and popular culture.

Preservation Organizations

• African American Heritage Preservation Foundation. AAHPF has been primarily engaged in activities that include the preservation, maintenance, and awareness of endangered or little-known African American historical sites in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regions. In addition, AAHPF acts as a resource center for community groups, preservationists, genealogical and historical societies, not-for-profit organizations and government entities, nationwide, needing assistance in the preservation of African American historical sites and history.
• Art In Ruins Headquartered in Providence, RI, Art In Ruins maintains an up-to-date Architecture area on its website featuring abandoned spaces, case studies, historical images, and urban decay. AIR "wants to know about abandoned and vacant buildings for sale before they are snatched by developers" and encourages productive discussion and dialogues on creative re-use of historic buildings. Accepts submissions from interested folks.
• Association for Preservation Technology [APT]. Friends of the Recent Past. The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) is the premier cross-disciplinary organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structures and their settings. With members in 28 countries, APT connects a network of architects, conservators, tradespeople, consultants, planners, curators, landscape architects, engineers, developers, educators, engineers, historians, apprentices and students.
• The Center for Land Use Interpretation The Center for Land Use Interpretation is a research organization involved in exploring, examining, and understanding land and landscape issues. The Center employs a variety of methods to pursue its stated aim, engaging in research, classification, extrapolation, and exhibition.
• Colorado Preservation, Inc. is a statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization founded in 1984 by citizens concerned about the preservation of Colorado's unique and irreplaceable heritage. Its Saving Places conference is the largest gathering of preservationists, architects, and industry people in Colorado. Colorado Preservation, Inc.'s award-winning Endangered Places Program is a grassroots effort to recognize the buildings, landscapes, and streetscapes that are most threatened to being lost forever.
• DOCOMOMO U.S. brings the significance of the Modern Movement to the attention of the public, the authorities, the professions and the educational community concerned with the built environment. The function of DOCOMOMO is to co-operate with official and voluntary organizations for the furtherance of the aims set out in the Eindhoven Statement.
• DOCOMOMO Georgia plans to increase public and professional awareness of Georgia’s Modern Heritage through organized events and tours; development of useful technical and Internet-based resources; electronic mailing lists; ongoing documentation; and collaboration with other preservation organizations, schools, and professional groups. An online resource (www.docomomoga.org) includes links to relevant technical and historic resources; a bibliography; and documentation of structures identified in the registry. To contact DOCOMOMO Georgia, contact Thomas F. Little, AIA at 404-872-8400 or at info@docomomoga.org.
• Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation A non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and advancing the principles of organic architecture.
• Historic Denver, Inc. Historic Denver, Inc. is a citizen organization whose purpose is to preserve Denver's significant historic fabric, its distinctive architecture and its cultural landscapes which are tangible reflections of our heritage and the foundation of our quality of life. Our responsibility as a nonprofit corporation is to be a catalyst for and advocate of ideas, programs, actions and plans which enable our community to respect and carry forward the preservation of this heritage.
• Historic Districts Council (New York) "Across the city, people struggling to save their historic neighborhoods urgently seek landmark status, while others in already designated districts work to maintain the special community character that won them landmark protection in the first place. In New York City, The Historic Districts Council is the only city-wide grassroots organization singularly dedicated to these communities and the Landmarks Law that protects them."
• Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana saves and restores irreplaceable architectural heritage, from outstanding national landmarks like West Baden Springs to modest historic houses, barns and bridges. If you’re interested in the historic preservation and restoration of Indiana landmarks, you’ve come to the right place.
• Historic Preservation Northwest. Historic Preservation Northwest was founded in 2000 by a group of historic preservation consultants. We're a new firm; however, as individuals, we have many years of experience in the field of historic preservation. As private preservation consultants, we have banded together under a common organization to provide our clients with a wider range of services than any one of us can provide alone. Historic Preservation Northwest is based in Oregon, providing services primarily to the Willamette Valley. Our work is concentrated between Portland and Eugene, though we have served areas throughout the State of Oregon.
• Houston Mod: Preserving Our Modern Legacy. Houston Mod is a non-profit membership organization working toward the preservation of modern architecture and design in Houston and Texas. The web site represents efforts from a group, aka the "mod squad", which includes Stephen Fox, Ben Koush, Anna Mod, Karen Lantz, Fillipo Castore and Michael Brichford. This new organization promotes the exchange of information and documentation of cultural resources from the recent past.
• Landmark West! The Committee to Preserve the Upper West Side (New York). LANDMARK WEST! is a non-profit award-winning community group working to preserve the best of the Upper West Side's architectural heritage from 59th to 110th Streets between Central Park West and Riverside Drive. Since 1985, we have worked to achieve landmark status for individual buildings and historic districts. Today, LANDMARK WEST! is the proud curator of the area's 2,606 designated landmarks (up from only 337 in 1985), and continues to promote awareness of these architectural treasures and the urgent need to protect them against insensitive change and demolition.
• Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee 'ModCom' An active organization that holds regular monthly meetings to plan educational events such as tours, exhibitions and lectures; research and nominate landmarks; organize field trips; and serve as advocates for Modern design. Check out their Preservation Advocacy page for examples of saved mid-century modern buildings in L.A. and participate in a thriving preservation community at the Modern Committee Message Board on Lottaliving.com
• Modernist Studies Association. "The Modernist Studies Association is devoted to the study of the arts in their social, political, cultural, and intellectual contexts from the later nineteenth- through the mid-twentieth century. The organization aims to develop an international and interdisciplinary forum to promote exchange among scholars in this revitalized and rapidly changing field."
• Municipal Art Society. "The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) is a private, non-profit membership organization that aggressively champions excellence in urban design and planning and the preservation of the best of New York's past. The MAS has long been the leader of advocacy efforts to preserve the best of New York City's past, achieve sanity in planning and promote excellence in urban design."
• Neighborhoods, USA. A national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. There is an annual conference and yearly "Neighborhood of the Year" (NOTY) and "NUSA Notables" awards. NUSA also publishes a quarterly newsletter targeted to the needs and interests of neighborhood-based organizations.
• Palm Springs Modern Committee. The Palm Springs Modern Committee is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the heritage of modern architecture and design in Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley. Our goal is to be a meeting place for Palm Springs Modernists, both residents and nonresidents, with the ability to quickly mobilize support for urgent preservation issues.
• Preservation Maryland. Preservation Maryland is the state's oldest historic preservation organization. Founded in 1931 as the Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities, Preservation Maryland is a private, nonprofit, statewide membership organization governed by a volunteer board of directors and operated by a professional staff. Early activities were dedicated to marking and preserving historic properties, especially those associated with George Washington. Now dedicated to Funding, Outreach, and Advocacy.
• Save Fenway Park! "SAVE FENWAY PARK! believes that a thoughtfully renovated Fenway Park will allow the Red Sox to meet stated revenue objectives while preserving a New England tradition. We feel that renovating Fenway Park into a first-class modern sports facility is in the very best interest of the Red Sox, their fans and the people of Boston."
• Tulsa Now We are a citizen-based organization that encourages all Tulsans to respond to and help influence the shaping of significant livability issues affecting Tulsa and Tulsans. TulsaNow is represented by Tulsans from all sections of our city, and from every ethnic, cultural, religious, political, and social background, who believe that the livability of our city can be enhanced many fold and in several dimensions.
• The Twentieth Century Society. The Twentieth Century Society exists to safeguard the heritage of architecture and design in Britain from 1914 onwards. One of the Society’s prime objectives is education, with education comes appreciation. With conservation, another prime objective, comes the continued opportunity for extending our knowledge about those buildings or artifacts, whether important or humble, rare or commonplace as the red telephone kiosk, that characterise the Twentieth Century in Britain.
  
• Van Alen Institute: Projects to Improve the Public Realm "Van Alen Institute: Projects in Public Architecture, has structured its mission to promote inquiry into the process, production, design, and implementation of the public realm. The organization was founded in 1894 to advocate and realize architecture and design at the highest level for the public sphere, and Van Alen Institute seeks to revitalize that goal through competitions, fellowships, public design workshops, and programs that are driven by the issues facing today's public realm."
• Society for Commercial Archaeology "Established in 1977, the Society for Commercial Archaeology is the oldest national organization devoted to the artifacts, structures, signs and symbols of the 20th century commercial landscape.

Architectural Photographers

• TobyWeiss.com.

Other Sites of Interest

• Omnitectural Forum Consider a sort of forum that's centric about the idea of architecture--titled with a bow to the late great mid-c20 American trade journal "Architectural Forum" --but it doesn't really observe the typical parameters of architectural, or historical, or theoretical, or stylistic discussion. Think of it as sprawling and encompassing all in a distinctive way--and the magic is in the "omni" prefix. Unlike similar prefixes such as "multi" or "poly" or "pan", "omni" denotes not only collectivity and/or encompassment, but a flickering and disorienting collectivity and/or encompassment, darting to and fro like a water strider, defying any artificial attempt to impose an identity or to put it in a nutshell --one can never tell where the omni comes from, or where the omni goes next.
• Modernism Magazine The only magazine devoted to the great design movements of the 20th century, from Art Deco to Mid-Century, Pop and Post-Modern, with coverage of new products and interiors in a Modernist idiom.

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