Gas stations these days seem to all look exactly alike: a square box with a convenience store inside and gas pumps in front. The main difference between them is the color scheme that identifies the brand, and you find the same ones in every town near the interstate highway. But it was not always so -and even now you can find filing stations that are architectural wonders. Gizmodo has a collection of images of gas stations designed by renowned architects over the past hundred years or so. Some copy the styles of other buildings, some are space-age or futuristic designs, some are novelty buildings, but my favorites are the art deco gas stations. The station shown here is in Shamrock, Texas. It was built in 1936 and has been restored to its original glory. See 61 distinctive gas stations. -via Metafilter
(Image credit: Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress)
In addition, there are the small footprint stations, where one cashier is in a glass coffin in the center, with no store at all. And those retrofits, installed in an existing row/strip mall with no indication which one is operating the pumps.