Drive-in gas stations weren’t just about fuel: They helped create the American driving culture.
People have always had a need to travel, be it to explore and discover new lands or for our own enjoyment. Gas stations have always played a crucial role when travelling by road and have long been a familiar sight on American roadways, serving as crucial pit stops for motorists on their journeys.
The first drive-in service station opened in Pennsylvania in 1913. American motorists had been able to pump their own gas at filling stations since 1905, but those were little more than a pump at the curbside. Before that, motorists bought gasoline in cans from places like pharmacies and blacksmith shops and filled up themselves.
However, the gas stations we encounter today bear little resemblance to their early counterparts from the 1920s and 1940s.
This is how they looked like:
Despite the talk about the future of electric vehicles, the gas station remains an essential business across America and all over the world. Not only do they provide a fuel source for vehicles, most have convenience stores offering drinks, snacks, and basic food items like sandwiches and pizza slices. In the smallest communities, gas stations are also social gathering spots where the locals can meet up for coffee or a light breakfast. The business is too important to expect gas stations to go out of business for the next couple decades.
Catchy gas station slogans
Get gas and go, go, go
Fuel up, fire up, rev up
Fuel up & feel the heat
The energy will keep you going
Running high with every drop
The soul that keeps your engine running
The spirit that keeps you running
The fuel of your dreams
Drive a stallion
That powerful drive of your dreams
The energy that lasts
Your engine’s reliable partner
