1920’s Shell Station

This 1920s steel gas station was built by Pacific Steele of Los Angeles, a major manufacturer of early prefabricated stations. Its clean, modern “box-type” design reflects the era’s emphasis on efficiency and professionalism along the growing highway system. The station was later acquired by collector John Parham from a location somewhere in the western United States, though its original site is unknown.

It joined the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum collection in the spring of 2025, representing the early infrastructure that fueled America’s expanding roadways. The mural on the wall behind the station features a historic photograph from downtown Davenport, IA that was sourced from the Davenport Public Library collection.