Behind the Shot
“An icon along Route 66,” says photographer Carlos Vargas about this 2018 capture. The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, has been serving travelers along the Mother Road since 1939. The motel is known not only for its classic neon, but also for its stucco walls decorated with shell designs and its vintage garages between rooms. The property is listed on the National Register for Historic Places—a motor lodge that's been perfectly preserved to match the vintage travel of yesteryear.
Hang this print in your home to inspire wanderlust and to remind you of the freedom of the open road.