Service Stations: Driving America’s Automobile Culture

ON DISPLAY

October 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026

Explore the history surrounding early automobile service with our upcoming exhibit "Service Stations: Driving America's Automobile Culture." This exhibit will delve into the local history surrounding service stations: the culture the created, employee experiences, and how they impacted growing travel culture.

Imagine being the first automobile owner – you have purchased the car, but now what? Gasoline is needed to fuel the car, along with experienced mechanics to service it. In a smaller town that is brand new to the luxuries of car ownership, the town simply did not have an established infrastructure to initially support automobile owners. Once the demand behind automobiles became clear, vehicle-related businesses flourished.