Roadside Attractions with Leslie Goddard

Have you ever slept in a wigwam? Or taken a selfie with Paul Bunyan? Ever stepped inside an alligator’s mouth? Since Americans took to the highways for long-distance travel in the 1920s, entrepreneurs have been dreaming up unusual structures to attract passing motorists. Although the heyday passed with the arrival of interstate highways, thousands of quirky roadside attractions remain. 

Historian Leslie Goddard, PhD, will explore these unique structures and what they tell us about the history of road travel.

Brought to you in partnership with the River Forest Township.