50 AMERICAN TRAVEL SOUVENIRS

When it comes to preserving precious vacation memories, travelers are faced with few options. The human brain is unreliable and photos are for suckers, so the only viable choice is commercially produced souvenirs. I've been patronizing souvenir shops for most of my life and figure it's time to share a hefty sample with the internet.  Many of these were bought on location, even some of the vintage ones, like the time the Seattle Space Needle put out some old World's Fair store stock in time for my visit.

Several of the experiences these represent deserve their own lengthy blog posts like my honeymoon at Niagara Falls, my fateful stay at South of the Border, and my visit to House on the Rock, my favorite of all roadside attractions. I have already written about a couple of them like Rock City and South Dakota. However, I've reserved my souvenir pennant collection for future bloggery. 

This is my technique when it comes to souvenir hunting:

• Seek out the most outmoded shops and the most outdated inventory. Check behind merchandise for older stuff. I love it that most tourist meccas have at least one shop that hasn't changed for decades.
• Try to sample the various souvenir subcategories, i.e. ceramic thimbles, tiny spoons, postcards, plates, shot glasses, patches, snowdomes, magnets, pennants, etc. 
• While abroad, check local flea markets and antique shops for vintage souvenirs.

And now let the journey BEGIN...

Empire State Building with King Kong replica- New York City, NY

Plastic Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building- New York, NY

Decorative dish from the 1964-65 New York World's Fair- New York City, NY

Bluff Dwellers Cave decorative thimble- Noel, MO

California sewing kit

Plastic Capitol Building- Washington, DC

 

Key to the City thermometer- Washington, DC

Colorado book mark

Collectible spoon from Corn Palace- Mitchell, SD


South Dakota metal cup

Stuffed Cozy Dogs from Cozy Dog Drive-In- Springfield, IL

Disneyland decorative plate- Anaheim, CA

Disneyland paperweight- Anaheim, CA

Dogpatch U.S.A ticket- Harrison, AR

Wall Drug glass container- Wall, SD


Flocked Jack-a-lope from Wall Drug- Wall, SD

Flocked Donkey Salt and Pepper shaker- Branson, MO

Bonus photo of three flocked animal friends

Drake Well patch- Titusville, PA

Fin and Feather pencil case- Gore, OK
(blogged about HERE)

Florida alligator in toilet with shells magnet- Orlando, FL

"Orange Purse" from Florida

Aloha from Hawaii ceramic bank

Salt and Pepper shakers from Hawaii

House on the Rock serving tray- Spring Green, WI

House on the Rock coaster- Spring Green, WI

Mt. Rushmore souvenir photo booklet- Keystone, SD

Christ of the Ozarks mini-statue- Eureka Springs, AR

Niagara Falls ashtray

Niagara Falls jumbo cigar

Niagara Falls ship's wheel frame

El Rancho Motel mini-soap- Reno, NV

Rock City Gardens souvenir booklet- Chattanooga, TN

Rock City Gardens pan flute- Chattanooga, TN

 

Rock City Gardens postcard book- Chattanooga, TN

Rock City snowdome- Chattanooga, TN

Rocky the Gnome mini figure- Chattanooga, TN

Postcard with attached bag of salt from Salt Lake, UT

Mold-O-Rama Gorilla- San Antonio, TX

San Francisco snowdome

Seattle World's Fair flexi-disc

Wisconsin Dells souvenir photo booklet

South of the Border ashtray- Dillon, SC

South of the Border billboard booklet- Dillon, SC

South of the Border glitterdome- Dillon, SC

South of the Border pinback button- Dillon, SC

Denver Mint penny in a bottle- Denver, CO

Winchester Mystery House patch- San Jose, CA

Various faux currency

Various squished pennies

Various matchbooks