Today I’m doing a collaborative show with Josh Hallmark from the podcast Our Americana, which explores unique small towns across America through the stories that impact, cultivate, and challenge community.

America can feel oppressive. Every day it feels more and more like pieces of it are disappearing. That it’s losing its value. But … there are monuments and mementos of the past if we just take a moment from our busy lives to take a look. Strange reminders of small victories, new life, love stories, and the strength of community. These stories are all around us, relics of station wagon days, on the highways and gravel roads that connect us all. It’s easy to dismiss them as icons of capitalism; if you build it, they will come, and buy. But, there’s always something more there, something deeper.

I'm Josh Hallmark from Our Americana and I'm Emily Prokop and this is the story behind Roadside Attractions.

**Visit OurAmericanaPodcast.com to listen to Episode 4.4: Roadside Attractions (Monuments)**

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This episode was brought to you by The Story Behind Executive Producers who support the show through the Patreon Page at patreon.com/thestorybehind: Barry G, Bandrew Scott, Jarrod Dunham, Linguist Sam, Epic Film Guy Nick, Ryle Davis Jr., Dave Jackson, Sunshine & PowerCuts, Everyone Has a Podcast, Adam Higgins, The Beardcaster, Elikqitie, Jim Collison, North Omaha History Podcast, Dan Brenic, Two Peas on a Podcast, Jason Bryant, History Goes Bump, The One Word Go Show, and Stargate Pioneer.

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Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

• RoadsideAmerica.com
• Why Do We Travel For Pleasure? The Psychology Of Tourism, Explored - Bustle
• Tourist Psychology - Psychology Today
• Along the Interstates: Seeing the Roadside - General Highway History - Highway History - Federal Highway Administration
• Grand Tours History - Regency History
• How Americans Fell in Love With Taking Road Trips - Time
• The Real Paul Bunyan - How Stuff Works
• Was Paul Bunyan a real person? - HISTORY
• 6 Towns That Claim Paul Bunyan as Their Own (and What They Should Be Bragging About Instead) - Mental Floss
• Why do we love Paul Bunyan so much? – Twin Cities
• The World’s Largest Frying Pan — Er, Six of Them - Village Voice
• This Elephant Is Not Endangered : Victorian Relic Built in 1881 Is the Pride of Beach Town - Los Angeles Times
• Roadside Attractions--About This Lesson - National Parks Service
• Pokemon Go offers opportunity, challenges to tourist attractions - Travel Weekly
• “World’s biggest” roadside attractions: a history of “world’s largest” tourist traps - Slate
• Kitschiest Roadside Attractions in America - Travel & Leisure
• Are Old-fashioned Road Trips Trendy Again? - Boston.Com
• Roadside Attractions Fading from Landscape - NPR
• Why your church, art, and water towers are Pokemon Go gyms and Pokestops - GamesRadar.com