Summer School: The History Behind 4 Regional Best Sellers

Summer school may conjure thoughts of dusty textbooks and pop quizzes, but we’re taking a sunnier approach to the dreaded summer break plan. Our curriculum starts (and ends) with the stories behind four of our regional best sellers. These images capture the spirit, nostalgia, and hidden history of beloved places across the country. Each piece is a glimpse into the culture, travel trends, and timeless charm that shaped these destinations into icons.  

Class is officially in session, so grab a pencil and paper – you may want to take notes. 

Lesson 1 – Oklahoma’s Bold Hello Greetings  

This colorful "Greetings From" postcard captures the booming spirit of mid-20th-century Oklahoma. These large letter postcards, produced by companies like Curt Teich & Co., were very popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. Their bold, blocky designs usually featured famous landmarks inside each letter. In this one, spot oil rigs, the Oklahoma State Capitol, and cultural tributes. Oklahoma's economy was then fueled by oil, earning it the nickname "The Oil Capital of the World," and this imagery cemented the state's image as a land of prosperity and proud Western heritage. Extra credit: the state's official flower, the mistletoe, is also proudly featured! 

Lesson Two – Musical Moment in the Bayou 

This whimsical postcard taps into the quirky side of Louisiana tourism marketing from the early 1900s. Anthropomorphic animal scenes like this one, featuring alligators dressed up or engaging in human activities, were very trendy in vintage postcards, especially in the South. These images were designed to amuse travelers and create a memorable, playful portrayal of Louisiana’s wildlife. New Orleans' bayous and swamps were viewed as exotic and mysterious by visitors from other parts of the U.S., and postcards like this contributed to the city’s wild and wonderful reputation. 

Lesson Three – Into the Wild Deserts of California 

This serene desert landscape highlights one of California’s most iconic natural wonders - the Joshua tree. These spiky, otherworldly plants, which are part of the Yucca family, are native to the Mojave Desert. This type of linen-era postcard, produced from the 1930s to the early 1950s, used vibrant, exaggerated colors to romanticize the rugged beauty of the American West. These images started as black and white or sepia-toned photographs that were hand-tinted by actual artists and illustrators and printed on a color press. One company even had artists hand-tint each individual black and white or sepia-toned postcard! The scene reflects the growing fascination with desert landscapes that took hold after the rise of the automobile. As road trips and national park tourism exploded, postcards like this were the perfect souvenirs for wide-eyed travelers discovering the magic of California’s high desert. 

Lesson Four – Skyscraper-Studded Streets of NYC 

This streamlined blue-and-white design shows off New York City’s architectural prowess in full Art Deco glory. The style captures an era when the Empire State Building (completed in 1931) and Rockefeller Center (completed between 1933 and 1940) symbolized the city’s rise as a modern metropolis. The phrase "The Wonder City" was often used in promotional materials of the time, emphasizing New York's status as a dazzling, energetic hub of culture, industry, and ambition. Bold, graphic posters were commonly seen in railway stations and travel agencies, enticing tourists to experience the marvels of Manhattan up close and personal.