Colossus Of Roads: Myth and Symbol along the American Highway [Paperback]

A rich and lively examination of this curious and pervasive tradition.

The world’s largest prairie chicken, a restaurant shaped like a fish, a massive Paul Bunyan, an enormous ear of corn-roadside sculpture is a uniquely American phenomenon, and these strange and wonderful figures are scattered along highways and standing in small-town squares, particularly in the Midwest.

These odd, oversized attractions have become destinations for travelers. Whether it serves art, commerce, or local pride, the colossus is a stopping place where the everyday rules of reality are suspended and the observer can gain insight into the way these communities imagine themselves.

Karal Ann Marling visits dozens of these roadside attractions, viewing them analytically, intellectually, and enthusiastically, tracing each one through folklore and literature. Heavily illustrated, this book takes the reader on the road to examine these treasures and all that they represent.

Karal Ann Marling is professor of American studies and art history at the University of Minnesota. She is the author of numerous books on American culture, includingDesigning Disney’s Theme Parks(1997),Graceland: Going Home with Elvis(1996), andGeorge Washington Slept Here(1988).