In the 1910s, as internal combustion engines began outpacing horses and wagons, the first American gas stations emerged as crude, utilitarian outposts. These early "filling stations" were strictly functional, offering motorists little more than a fuel hose and a patch of dirt. By the 1920s, the United States experienced a cultural explosion of car ownership. As millions of women took the wheel, oil companies realized that the "grease-monkey" aesthetic was a deterrent to these potential customers. To capture this market, brands pivoted from filling stations to "service stations." These redesigned hubs introduced uniformed attendants, manicured landscaping, and—most crucially—clean, indoor restrooms. By offering the comforts of home to families on the go, the industry transformed the humble filling station from a mechanical necessity into a cornerstone of the American roadside experience.

Dr. Susan Spellman, presenter, is Professor of History and chair of the Department of Humanities and Creative Arts at Miami University. She is the author of Cornering the Market: Independent Grocers and Innovation in American Small Business (Oxford University Press, 2016), in addition to several articles on US business history. 

No RSVP is required.

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