Society for Commercial Archeology Conference

Festival Location: Manitou Springs, CO, USA

Festival State: Colorado Festivals

Festival Type(s): Bizarre Festivals, Miscellaneous Events, Conventions

By: © Nelson Taylor 2009

The Society for Commercial Archaeology (SCA), founded in 1977, is the oldest national organization devoted to the artifacts, structures, signs, and symbols of the 20th century commercial landscape. What does this mean? Member and Colorado organizer Mark Wolfe says, "Things that are developed to attract the traveling public." This includes the roads themselves and their counterparts like bridges and interchanges, plus gas stations, motels, theme parks, drive-in theaters...you name it.

Every year about 150 register to attend the conference, which is three days of symposiums and guided tours. Most are part of the 800-member organization, but you don't have to be a member to attend. Members usually pay $95 for registration while non-members pay $120. Membership dues run $25 per year.

Conferences are held every August. The 1999 conference, titled "Made in Ohio: Enameled Eateries, Durable Domiciles and Fast Food," included tours of the White Castle headquarters, the Longaberger Basket Company (the building is shaped like a basket) and the Kahiki Supper Club, which is one of many wildly unique Polynesian-themed restaurants that were popular after WWII. Tours cost extra and run about $50 per day, which includes all meals. The August 2000 conference will be held in Manitou Springs. Its title: "Automobile Culture in the Rocky Mountain West." Tours will include a trip up the cog railroad leading to the 14,110-foot summit of Pike's Peak; Santa's Workshop at the North Pole, which is a Christmas theme park that opened in the 50s; and the Will Rogers Shrine.