in the midwest there is a airplane and automobile museum that has rescued some cool buildings to give the Wings and Wheels Museum some period correct locations

 Above, the Springfield Hanger made in 1938 was used until the 1960s, at Commercial Field. Once used by the big airlines until growth out of small aircraft caused the need for ginormous hangers and larger runways

Above, the Waukesha Hanger was built in 1937, at the Waukesha Wisconsin airport that once was the training facilty for air cadets that went on to World War 2 as pilots from the region

Slim's Garage was a steel prefab car repair and gas station in Green lake Wisconsin, made in the late 20's early 30's

1924 Sunoco gas station, after being made obsolete, it was bought by a railroad museum, and now the Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum.
More info on all the building at http://www.poplargroveairmotive.com/museum/grandopening.htm

Now situated at the campus of the Poplar Grove Illinois Vintage Wings and Wheels museum  http://www.poplargrovewingsandwheels.com which is closed through winter and spring, but opens in May.
It's North West of Chicago, North East of Rockford Illinois

Airplanes used to get you to pull into gas stations or restaurants, the Best one first, Bobs Air Mail Service on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, circa 1938

as you might read on the tail area, it was labeled the "Happy Landing" and sold Mobil gasoline

Above 2 photos from http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=5679313&postcount=7493

Below images from the guru of the Roadside attraction and signs: https://roadsidenut.wordpress.com/

The above is the only photo in this post from http://fifties50s.blogspot.com and the airplane over Evans Service Station does not appear on any Google search, or other websites that I could dig up when looking for more cool old airplanes and warbirds for this post

the two images above are from http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/485451-airplanes-billboards-hotels-gas-stations-etc.html

gas stations and gas company advertising, mostly 1930's and 40's

A footnote of interest in history, and I think a lot of people have forgetten, that during world war II, so many men in America were drafted into the military, that in order to keep American jobs alive, and to make munitions, tanks, airplanes, and so many of the suddenly necessary things that fighting the war created a need for, women stopped being treated like domestic prisoners. They even formed a baseball league, since the majority of the baseball players were drafted (See the movie "A League Of Their Own")

Above, good design thinking, why not have the gas station provide shade for the mechanics, cars, and customers? Not just shade, but shelter from rain and snow!

Some time ago, the company Montgomery Ward was like Target. It operated from 1872 to 2001. Then couldn't figure out how to compete with online companies like Amazon.com that had taken it's business model of mail order goods, and improved on it  to where it and the other competition have put Sears, Montgomery Ward, and Kmart out of business or through bankruptcy. Montgomery Ward was so influential, they invented Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. The mail order catalog was deemed as influential on American life as the Websters dictionary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Ward

The above is in Portland Oregon, and has been going through a restoration

late 1940's gas station in Brazil

found on http://theoldiebutgoodie.tumblr.com

the Nantuckett gas station from the movie "One Crazy Summer"

the only time an AMC Eagle was ever used as scenery I bet

terrific Shell gas station in the movie "Dark Shadows" with Johnny Depp

The Strebins Shell service station of Wawpecong was restored this summer, from July to October... and wow, what a great job!

Photos from http://www.flickriver.com/places/United+States/Indiana/Wawpecong/ which also shows that station from as found to this restored condition.

Thanks to Jim for tipping me to this cool pore 1940's gas station!