The gas station has been a big part of American life since automobile ownership exploded in the early parts of the 20th century. Over the years these places evolved from greasy, grimy shacks on the side of the road to gleaming centers where mechanics were on duty and everything from routine maintenance and heavy repairs took place. Today the most important business of the majority of gas stations doesn’t even involve the gas. The famed C-store is where the big money is and when you look at these photos you’ll feel as ashamed about that as we do. Lots of you reading out there (me included) had jobs at gas stations back when that was a pretty cool gig.

I worked at a full service Shell station in high school pumping gas, painting curbs, changing oil, and helping out on the heavier work that the mechanics were completing. It was a place that became a social hub for the other gearhead kids in the school and the old man that owned the joint had enough faith in us to allow the shop to be used at night, after hours. We laughed, bled, screwed around, and learned in that place. Today the garage is a store and the floors I used to scrub every Friday with hose, a broom, and granular soap are tiled over and support the weight of a Lil Debbie display rather than trucks and vans.

The evolution of the gas station is captured in many of these images. Those places with a little house, a dirt lot, and two pumps became the well lit, white tiled Standard Oil stations that you’ll see below. They became places where instead of a toothless guy sloshing fuel into your car you were greeted by a guy in a white shirt who checked your oil, washer fluid, and tire pressure. Why? In short because lots of women had drivers licenses and they were trying to develop a place where they were not afraid to stop.

You will see killer old signs, brand names you may have never heard of and a gaggle of spectacular car. The photos from the 1940s that depict long lines at the stations were taken the day before gasoline rationing started in the US. Everyone wanted to go into that scenario with a full tank for obvious reasons.

The story of the gas station is the story of the American driver and the industry that sprung up around them. Scroll down to see nearly two dozen awesome images showing the glory days of American gas.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SOME AWESOME IMAGES OF CLASSIC AMERICAN GAS STATIONS IN THEIR HEYDAY –