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Resting between an old road and a new road in Missouri rest several abandoned tourist cabins, a legend of Route 66, despite the damage seen in this 11x14 documentary photograph. The focus of this photo is the wound in the little log cabin; something unknown, though most likely a tree, has left a gaping hole in the wooden walls, crumbled the edge of the green roof into the cabin. Bits of the wooden logs that cover the exterior of the tourist cabin can still be seen on the grassy earth below, but most of those fragments have fallen into the cabin, or perhaps have even been spirited away by visitors.

This 11x14 documentary photo shows us what remains of John's Modern Cabins in Missouri. Built in the 1930s as nothing but a humble tourist court, the cabins have become an icon of America's Mother Road, Old Route 66. Sadly, though Route 66 is enjoying a revival, it is unlikely that these abandoned, dilapidated cabins will ever return to life. Abandoned since the late 1970s, the famous old tourist court is slowly returning to nature, bit by bit, though occasionally helped along in their decline by the forces of nature, from storms to termites. Surely the structure of the featured cabin in this art photo from Missouri has been damaged by the gaping hole in its side, yet as this photo demonstrates, the cabin stands its vigil, facing the silent road--an old, decommissioned, silent alignment of Route 66.

To the left of the green-roofed cabin with a mortal wound in its side, the corner of another cabin fills the frame of the photo, its logs stacked one atop the other, so we see circle, beam, circle, beam, all the way down the side of the photograph. In the gap between the two cabins, old pallets and a torn-apart leather chair filled with horsehair--likely from the 1940s or 1950s, the heyday of the Mother Road--rest amidst the grass and fallen leaves; we can see cinderblocks holding up the rear corner of the damaged cabin.

Partially obscured by the log-cabin style exterior of the cabin on the left side of the photo's frame, an outhouse--modern indeed!--tilts slightly forward and to one side, resting just behind the cabin featuring an enormous hole in its wall. We can see two handsome trees rising up behind the damaged, dilapidated cabin, their branches extending over the wounded cabin as if to protect it, the brand-new spring leaves forming the beginning of a pretty, bright green canopy. The rusty John's Modern Cabins neon Deco-style sign hangs above the cabin behind the damaged one, nestled closer to the right side of the photograph.

No carpet remains within the cabins--if there ever was any, it rotted away years ago--but the green grass and brown fallen leaves form a more natural covering of the ground beside the abandoned, weatherbeaten cabins. The grass gently brushes against our legs as we quietly explore this almost-hallowed part of our history, leaves crunching beneath our feet as the birds sing overhead. A spring breeze leaves the trees' branches and almost lime-green leaves swaying; such is the only traffic John's Modern Cabins see now. The years of gleaming steel and chrome land yachts zipping by on the Mother Road, pulling over for a night's sleep, are gone; only those wishing to pay their respects and consider our past pay the cabins in this documentary photo a visit, hoping each time that they remain standing for one more generation.

Professionally printed on archival-quality 11x14 photograph paper, this Route 66 art photo in shades of brown, green, and gold has a white border for easy framing and to protect the image itself. I sign, date, and number each photo on back prior to mailing it.

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Today, those journeying along Route 66 must truly seek this old alignment, along which the remains of John's Modern Cabins are often nearly hidden by the sheltering arms of the trees and thick green brush that surround them. The hunt is well worth the effort, of course. John's Modern Cabins are famous among those who love the Mother Road, whether they've travelled it or not.

There is something almost sacred about this quiet place in the woods of Missouri; having been there to visit and photograph the log cabin with green-shingled roofs twice, I still cannot quite place my finger on it. It seems that the past echoes within the cabins and amidst the trees, just loudly enough that our curiosity and romantic side are sparked, leaving us longing to know more, longing to return to this iconic yet very quiet place.

Fortunately, those who visit these cabins, these representatives of Route 66 considered something akin to holy ground of the American roadside, have been respectful and thoughtful, leaving behind no graffiti, stealing nothing--nothing but a glimpse into our past. This is as it should be.

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