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About this project

1 woman
15 days
6 states
3,000 miles
50 folk, novelty, googie, roadside, art-architecture sites

The purpose of the Folk Architecture Tour is to visit and document sites expressing folk art structures, novelty architecture and fading American roadside attractions. I plan to travel by car from Bellingham, WA to Houston, TX in 15 days. The goal of journey is to gain an understanding of why people build these types of artistic architectural structures; how the local populations relate to these structures; and how these sites come together in a larger context to tell a story about American life.

The tour sites have been chosen based on physical, cultural and historical significance. My written thoughts, research, interviews and photographs will attempt to document the value in each individual site as well as folk art structures as an architectural vernacular. This information will translate into individual recommendations for the preservation of each as well as inform the development of further preservation methods for America’s odd historical resources. Post tour, this information will be assembled into a book.

Along the way I will keep an exclusive daily travel blog and twitter account. These logs will allow project backers to follow me on my journey and participate in the communication of ideas. The blog will also allow further communication with individuals I may meet along the way. As a project backer, your monetary contribution will help fund my transportation, lodging, documentation equipment and any fees associated with visiting the sites. Please view my working tour schedule and project budget for further details:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub... and here for the working tour map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...
A sampling of tour sites:
His Place Community Church, a tribute to Noah's Ark - Burlington, WA
Bob's Java Jive, Coffee Pot shaped building - Tacomo, WA
RichArt's Art Yard, sculptural site 20+ years in the making - Centralia, WA
Petersen Rock Garden, miniature monuments made of rocks - Redmond, OR
Railroad Park Resort, sleep in an old railroad cart! - Dunsmuir, CA
Taj Mahal Houseboat - a houseboat resembling the Taj Mahal - Sausalito, CA
Watts Towers, of the more famous folk-art sites - Los Angeles, CA
Cabazon Dinosaurs, as seen in Pee Wee's Big Adventure - Cabazon, CA
Shady Dell Hotel - lodging in restored aluminum travel trailers - Bisbee, AZ
Continental Divide Store Teepee, one of a few teepees on the list - Separ, NM
Stonehenge II + Easter Island Heads, both in one field - Hunt/Kerrville, TX
Beer Can House, a southern bungalow adorned in beer cans - Houston, TX
...and many more!

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Project By

Delaney

New York, NY

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I'm an architect, historic preservationist, and community advocate with a passion for discovering, designing and documenting the built world. Aesthetically, I appreciate many styles, be they fresh and simple or aging and complex. I believe good architectural design comes from an appreciation of the past and a clear understanding of context and needs. People who have influenced me are Jane Jacobs, Norm Abrahm, James Marston Fitch, Brian MacKay-Lyons, and many more. I love cities, buildings, walls and their functioning communities, and I strive to help make them better.