What gas stations looked like in the late 1930s in the United States

Before gas stations were common, Americans bought gas from the tank at the grocery or hardware store. Some stores even offer gas home delivery. World's first purpose-built gas station opens in St. Louis, Missouri in 1905. According to another version, the first official gas station opened in Pennsylvania in 1913: “The architect designed a pagoda-style brick building, water supply and tire pump station free of charge".

The automotive world changes rapidly; By the mid-1930s, there were about 200,000 gas stations in the United States, selling 68 billion liters of gasoline. Gas stations were the first commercial buildings to be set back from streets, allowing cars to move out of the way and out of traffic. At that time, the American oil industry employed more than a million people.

This collection includes photographs of gas stations taken between 1937 and 1942 in the United States. These photos are archived at the Library of Congress.