America’s Historic Roads
Puzzle 68 · Life Beside the Road · Page 96 in print
Tourist Courts
At the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, garages stood between sleeping units. The arrangement shows how early roadside lodging was designed around both travelers and their cars.
Jump to a word
The words
Blue Swallow
Roadside motel with garages between sleeping units.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
Cross Gables
Intersecting roof forms at the tourist court.
Cuba
Missouri town where the tourist court was built.
Doorways
Rounded or slightly arched openings in the court’s buildings.
Garages
Vehicle spaces between the motel’s sleeping units.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
John Mathis
Motel owner who designed its neon sign.
Leo Friesenhan
Stonemason who designed the tourist court’s buildings.
Lillian Redman
Longtime motel operator known for helping travelers.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
Shell Designs
Decorative motifs on the motel’s pink walls.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
Ted Jones
Rancher who opened the motel.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
Tucumcari
New Mexico city where the motel was built.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
Tudor Revival
Historical style used for the court’s stone buildings.
Vernacular
Regional architectural character identified at the motel.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
W A Huggins
Carpenter who began construction of the motel.
Park Service: New Mexico: Blue Swallow Motel (opens a new tab)
Wagon Wheel
Tourist court that combined cabins, cafe and filling station.
Sources
- New Mexico: Blue Swallow MotelNational Park Service
- Missouri: Wagon Wheel Motel, Cafe and StationNational Park Service