"Assignment 4: Mollie"

The Phillips 66 pictured here, located in Conyers, Georgia, is an example of a small, utilitarian gas station built in the 1970s. It is small in size with two gas pumps and approximately ten parking spaces. There is a simple blue and white sign above the entrance to the store. The interior of the store is sparse and utilitarian with fluorescent strip lighting and tan tile. Simple metal shelves display the basic goods offered.

The Phillips 66 was built after the creation and establishment of automobile oriented structures in the U.S. These commercial, vernacular structures could be found in every city and on every major roadway. The size and goods offered illustrate, however, the still comparatively small size of people who utilized gas stations on a regular basis.

The Chevron pictured here, also located in Conyers, is an example of an enlarged gas station built within the last five years. It is large in size with over ten gas pumps and approximately twenty parking spaces. The signs are larger and set at a higher elevation. It is interesting to note that gas station signs are now predominately symbols, illustrating the prevalence of this commercial, vernacular structure in our day to day lives. The interior of the store is large with raised ceilings and plate glass windows. Modern lighting and tile flooring set the stage for the same metal shelving that displays goods far beyond what is considered basic.

The evolution of the gas station illustrates the rise of consumerist culture and the importance of the automobile in American society. Although the Chevron is massive in comparison to the Phillips 66, numerous gas stations in the area offer over twenty gas pumps, clothing, and full lunch and dinner menus. The decor of gas stations built in the last ten years represents an American desire for what is newer, larger, and modern. Finally, the sheer size and number of gas stations throughout the U.S illustrate the ever growing economic and cultural impetus to build our environment around the automobile.