Saturday, June 16, 2012

Go West III - Route 66

Old Cadillac, Cadillac Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved


One of the original US Highways, Route 66 stretched from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California, and in its heyday in the 1950's was synonymous with the ultimate road trip. Along the "Main Street of America", you were sure to see something quirky and quintessentially American. Though this iconic highway has receded into the mythic past, segments of it still remain.

Not far from one of these remnants, in a cow pasture near Amarillo, Texas, is Stanley Marsh's Cadillac Ranch. This public art installation is a row of classic cadillacs buried at perfect angles matching those of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is undoubtedly one of the most photographed places in Texas, and one of the most graffitied. The old cars are an open canvas for anyone with spray can in hand.


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27 comments:

  1. Andrew Graeme GouldJune 16, 2012 at 12:14 AM

    What fantastic colours. A really striking image!

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  2. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"June 16, 2012 at 2:04 AM

    Looks like flower power crash dived in Texas!

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  3. Traveling HawkJune 16, 2012 at 3:05 AM

    The famous Route 66! I wouldn't guess this is grafitti! I thought it was burried like this from the beginning.

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  4. cieldequimperJune 16, 2012 at 6:55 AM

    Fabulous.

    The route is a myth!

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  5. UnknownJune 16, 2012 at 7:06 AM

    I am a lucky man having found your blog, show me a part of America that I like, plus your photographic vision is very great and wise,
    an affectionate greeting as

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  6. KateJune 16, 2012 at 7:25 AM

    Travelling what's left of Route 66 is a real trip! You have photographed that colorful car exceedingly well!

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  7. Cezar and LéiaJune 16, 2012 at 7:34 AM

    Looks like the paint on the car is rather thick now! I too would like to leave somehow an artistic imprint in there... :)
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  8. Frank de JolJune 16, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    Lovely shot !

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  9. hugoJune 16, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    This is soooo cool Doug! What an amazing and attractive oddity through your depiction!!!

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  10. AnonymousJune 16, 2012 at 8:36 AM

    Wonderful!

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  11. MarisaJune 16, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    Amazing!

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  12. La Mode OperandiJune 16, 2012 at 12:29 PM

    Wow, very cool road art indeed! I don't know about you but I would totally be alright with driving one of those puppies!

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  13. franzJune 16, 2012 at 1:06 PM

    wow, now this is really quirky! i like your concentration on just ONE of these buried cars instead of all of them as it allows one to study the graffiti better! one day i'd like to drive route 66 or what's left of it, too!
    (as to my 'holga' photo of today - no, i do not own a holga; this is just one of the options pikmonkey, a free site (so far ...) offers! glad you notice and like the changes wrought on the canal by the progressing seasons ... ;-))

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  14. FilipBlogJune 16, 2012 at 1:15 PM

    Amazing picture, what a car accident.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  15. píxeles y neuronasJune 16, 2012 at 3:07 PM

    Amazing shot!
    Agustín.

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  16. yzJune 16, 2012 at 5:31 PM

    what a find, very cool

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  17. JoeJune 16, 2012 at 6:16 PM

    Now that certainly put a smile on my face on a Sunday morning.

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  18. London CallerJune 16, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    You always know where and how to find this quirky stuff!
    Now that the economy is so bad,
    do you think they halved the car into two,
    so as to maximise its usage? Ha!?

    Couldn't find D+B on the car...
    Why did you leave your initials? ;o)

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  19. Crash RyanJune 16, 2012 at 7:02 PM

    you found my car!!!!!!!!!

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  20. T. BecqueJune 16, 2012 at 8:43 PM

    Now that's just interesting! Route 66 goes through Arizona too. I've been trying to convince my husband to drive me along it so I can shoot!

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  21. UnknownJune 18, 2012 at 7:51 AM

    Wowww!!!
    That's somewhere I'd love to go and see. Route 66!!
    We just had here, the 21st European Harley Davidson Encount 2012 Cascais, Portugal, and we were just talking about Route 66 and how lovely would it be to cross it with an Harley.... :) (We have got a Suzuki SV650S) - nice but not the same. :)
    Greetings

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  22. georgeJune 18, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    Good one Doug, and it's great the way the tail configuration of the old Cadillac makes it look like a half-buried fictional rocket ship.

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  23. https://cesarhdiago-fotografia.blogspot.com/June 18, 2012 at 7:05 PM

    Hey! It´s a good idea have old canvas like this to generate creativity.
    Good shot! A rocket ship like an arrow.
    Greetings.

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  24. ChristopherJune 18, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Now that's just awesome--I love the quirky bits of America. Great shot Doug!

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  25. Michael RowlandJune 19, 2012 at 2:38 AM

    Great series Doug! Love the colors out west,,,M

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  26. Monica S EngellJuly 5, 2012 at 4:45 AM

    I just found your blog and wonderful photos, and I am SO happy:)Amazing work you are showing, and very inspiring for a newbie like me! Thanks!
    :)

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  27. rianJuly 10, 2012 at 5:07 PM

    ah, i've heard about this.. it's also on my "list", nice to see it from up close, nice shot!

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