Roadside Giants (Paperback)

by Brian Butko (Author), Sarah Butko (Author) "Martin Maurer and his wife, Jeule, were among the scores of people who sold ducks and duck eggs on Long Island..." (more)
Key Phrases: roadside giants, catsup bottle, Paul Bunyan, Santa Claus, Coffee Pot (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
From Lucy, the colossal elephant-shaped building on the Jersey Shore, to the grand donut atop Randy's in Los Angeles, this full-colour guide profiles the commercial giants that loom over America's highways. Created to sell products and promote tourism in a big way, they can be found all over the United States. The authors have travelled far and wide to bring readers the world's largest duck in Long Island, an enormous Amish couple in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and towering Paul Bunyans all over the Midwest. There are buildings shaped like hot dogs, ice cream cones, and baskets, as well as the roadside phenomena known as 'Muffler Men', giants who originally advertised mufflers but now have been converted to cowboys, Indians, spacemen, and pirates. Big fun!

From the Back Cover
"Part commercial archaeology, part pure fun, it's America's big, goofy, fiberglass stuff alongside the highway. Don't leave this book in the glove compartment, awaiting your next hair-raising family trip. Read it first and wonder: Is this a great country or what?"
--Karal Ann Marling
Author of The Colossus of Roads

"Filled with the best examples of a fast-disappearing architectural style, this book is a welcome addition to every car culture enthusiast's library. A must for lovers of American popular culture and the built environment."
--Jim Heimann
Author of California Crazy & Beyond

"Brian and Sarah Butko are perfect guides and travel companions as they share the history, cool details, and how-to-get-there information for this all-American, wacky roadside stuff."
--Rick Sebak
Producer of the PBS special A Program about Unusual Buildings & Other Roadside Stuff

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (October 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811732282
• ISBN-13: 978-0811732284
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #354,295 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vacations from childhood, January 19, 2006

By	Donna Dowd - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book really captures all the great memories of going on vacation as a child. The Butko's do a wonderful job of finding all the great places, some off the beaten track and others not so off track, to help make memories for you and your children to take a driving vacation. The best memories seem to be the unplanned stops along the way. The authors make finding unusual spots a whole lot easier. The book is perfect to fit in the glove compartment to have handy no matter where your drive takes you. You are guaranteed to find a spot to stop somewhere along the way. By the authors taking all the guess work out of where to stop I think it will enable you to take in more roadside attractions and easier to plan the vacation. The pictures entice you to want to see all the attractions in person. This book definitely deserves a thumbs up! Great job!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The fun travel guide to exploring the roadside intricacies and oddities of American culture, March 3, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Readers can discover the eccentric tendencies of American roadways in Roadside Giants co-authored by Brian and Sarah Butko. Roadside Giants is the fun travel guide to exploring the roadside intricacies and oddities of American culture, applying "an-easy-to use" map of America's giants with enhanced with full color pictures, aspect dimensions, address and location and a brief history for each of the dozens of featured places. Roadside Giants is very highly recommended, particularly to the parents of family looking for a fun and interesting travel idea.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hoot!, November 4, 2007

By	Leigh Henline (North Platte Nebraska) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sarah and Brian Butko have another winner with Roadside Giants! Their joy of life comes through loud and clear here as they share with us the wonderful and wacky sights along the open road. Just like their fantastic 'Greetings from the Lincoln Highway' and 'Roadside Attractions', this book will have you packing your suitcases for a road trip, either real or armchair! Either way, you will enjoy this book!