Tall signs can’t save commerce. Or themselves.
Interstate 40 Business Route is mostly a courtesy title, at the east end of town anyway. The big truck stops – Love’s Travel Center, TravelCenters of America, and Big Rig Truck – are an easy off-then-on from the main highway, and anyway, if you go to one of those, you don’t have to watch your speed along that stretch of old Route 66 that goes through town.
This giant sign could surely have been seen from the interstate, but it wasn’t enough: the sign, and the station behind it are long abandoned.
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
photographed 5.4.2013
Posted on May 19, 2013, in Photography and tagged 365 photo project, black and white photography, melinda green harvey, new mexico, one day one image, photo a day, photography, santa rosa, santa rosa new mexico. Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.

I’m sure the sign did a nice job of pointing out the service station while it was in business but all things must pass. This is really nice. The sky adds to the drama and the shading of the clouds and sky bring out the best in the signposts.
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Thanks – I almost fell over backwards when I took this because that sign is SO tall!
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Great photo!
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Thanks – glad you like it!
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Wow… that sky and the great framing.
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The sky was especially cooperative that day!
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Really nice sign frame. It looks almost indestructible – it must be good for something else, but I am not sure what. Holding up a wind turbine maybe?
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Or: a white flag of surrender? A giant white flag of surrender: Texans, you know….
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I thought Texans NEVER surrendered.
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Oh, no, Texans don’t. But this is in New Mexico. Things are different in New Mexico.
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Melinda, this is a stunning image! The sky has such a gorgeous quality.
I find the sign post kind of neat because as strong and sturdy as it likely is, it also reminds me of bamboo with its ‘joints’ and weathered paint.
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Thanks, Karen! The sign does have sort of bamboo quality to it, which I hadn’t noticed until you pointed it out. This town is one of my favorite places to go, because it’s got so many old buildings and signs that have been left behind.
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