Backroads Buildings: In Search of the Vernacular

From New England to the Deep South, photographers Susan Daley and Steve Gross have captured more than 100 forgotten buildings along America's old auto routes. Isolated in full-color and black-and-white portraits, the roadside cafés, feed stores, grange halls, juke joints, and general stores are a poignant reminder of the ingenuity of local building practices and working-class culture during the years between the Civil War and the Great Depression.

With their humble beauty and distinctive character, these once-useful structures infuse the American landscape with a strong sense of place. This collection of buildings preserves a sampling of our country's architecture heritage and encourages travelers to slow down and notice the details.

Steve Gross & Susan Daley are photographic artists who live in New York City. They are the coauthors of 12 previous books on architectural and landscape design, including Creole Houses and Historic Charleston and the Lowcountry. Their fine-art photography has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums and is included in many private collections.