These pictures are from a book-in-progress, with the working title
The Heart of Town: Main Streets in America. It was begun in October 2001 and continues. There was a gap of several years after 2005 when I concentrated on post-Katrina urban planning work. I still photographed downtowns, but sought out certain elements for urban analysis. Those pictures are on another website, the
Transect Collection, where you can learn how different frontages support different walkable habitats.
Many of the images in this gallery are from my 2011 road trip coast-to-coast on US Route 50, which is arguably America's Main Street. It follows a rural-to-urban transect in and out of towns. Often US 50 becomes, literally, Main Street.
Keep clicking on the image to get an uncluttered background.
Main Street, Chillicothe, OH (Moss) 2011
![Main Street, Chillicothe, OH (Moss) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p465246327-11.jpg)
Main Street, Spring City, PA 2013
![Main Street, Spring City, PA 2013](/img/s/v-10/p1401175496-11.jpg)
First Street, Salida, CO (Blue Wall) 2011
![First Street, Salida, CO (Blue Wall) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p88718542-11.jpg)
Broadway Street, Cottonwood Falls, KS (Brick) 2011
![Broadway Street, Cottonwood Falls, KS (Brick) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p460309903-11.jpg)
Railroad Avenue, Green River, WY (The Brewery) 2008
![Railroad Avenue, Green River, WY (The Brewery) 2008](/img/s/v-10/p786859252-11.jpg)
Fourth Street, Rawlins, WY (Rifleman) 2008
![Fourth Street, Rawlins, WY (Rifleman) 2008](/img/s/v-10/p466557447-11.jpg)
16th Street, Cheyenne, WY (Fire Picture) 2008
![16th Street, Cheyenne, WY (Fire Picture) 2008](/img/s/v-10/p729722738-11.jpg)
Main Street, McArthur, OH (Dirt Bike) 2011
![Main Street, McArthur, OH (Dirt Bike) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p553018762-11.jpg)
Broad Street, Nevada City, CA (Early Morning) 2011
![Broad Street, Nevada City, CA (Early Morning) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p641853386-11.jpg)
16th Street, Cheyenne, WY (The Wrangler) 2008
![16th Street, Cheyenne, WY (The Wrangler) 2008](/img/s/v-10/p603483211-11.jpg)
Cottonwood Street, Strong City, KS (Crack) 2011
![Cottonwood Street, Strong City, KS (Crack) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p230332664-11.jpg)
Main Street, Austin, NV (Hardware Supply) 2011
![Main Street, Austin, NV (Hardware Supply) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p28813158-11.jpg)
George Washington Highway, Gormania, WV (State Line) 2011
![George Washington Highway, Gormania, WV (State Line) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p249589812-11.jpg)
Elm & Main, Rocky Ford, CO (Lad & Dad Shoes) 2011
![Elm & Main, Rocky Ford, CO (Lad & Dad Shoes) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p209928002-11.jpg)
Main & North, Flora, IL (Mural) 2011
![Main & North, Flora, IL (Mural) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p511812335-11.jpg)
Main Street, Spring City, PA (Colors) 2013
![Main Street, Spring City, PA (Colors) 2013](/img/s/v-10/p1401956872-11.jpg)
Main Street & US 50, Hasty, CO (Post Office) 2011
![Main Street & US 50, Hasty, CO (Post Office) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p26797028-11.jpg)
Church & Morrison, Fayette, MO (Hereford) 2011
![Church & Morrison, Fayette, MO (Hereford) 2011](/img/s/v-10/p461208095-11.jpg)
Cedar Street, Rawlins, WY (Wyo) 2008
![Cedar Street, Rawlins, WY (Wyo) 2008](/img/s/v-10/p243446016-11.jpg)
Main Street, Blackwater, MO (Iron Horse) 2011
All photographs ©Sandy Sorlien