Painted-Over Barns

 Rock City Barn NC-10. Bryson City, North Carolina.

The Federal Highway Beautification Act in the 1960s (The so-called "Ladybird Law," named for President Johnson's wife) forced Rock City to stop painting many barns. Worse, they were required to obliterate many signs by painting over them. 

Fortunately the paint-overs didn't weather well. On this barn the red has worn away from the letters, making it one of only two only red-and-white Rock City barns around. Last I heard, they planned to touch it up with some fresh, new white. (The other one was the "Birdhouse Barn," which stood for years beside Interstate 75 in Dalton, Georgia before being moved to a site in the valley below Rock City.)

The Highway Beautification Act has made many stretches of highway, especially interstates, terminally boring. I sometimes see people reading books or magazines as they drive. They would be safer reading signs. As for beauty, what could be more beautiful than a Rock City barn? 

I kinda miss Burma-Shave signs too.

(I made this photograph in Bryson City, North Carolina on December 29, 1995 while Louise and I were on a Christmas-week trip to visit the Biltmore House in Asheville. Canon EOS A2 camera, Fujichrome film.)

The second edition of Backroads and Byways of Georgia is almost ready to ship. Watch this space for ordering instructions.

Check out the pictures at my online gallery: https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  Looking is free, and you might find something you like.

Photography and text copyright 2023 David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.

Tags: Travel   Rock City Barns   Photography   Canon Cameras   Fujichrome   North Carolina   Bryson City  Asheville   Biltmore House