No-Tel Motel

The motel was opened by Elmer and Angeline Dobson as the Dobson Motel in 1942 and initially featured rooms with heating, cooling, and tiled showers, as well as some rooms with kitchenettes. It sat along the Miracle Mile strip on U.S. Route 80 in Arizona, where it saw traffic from those traveling through Tucson. The Dobsons sold the property in 1947. In 1951 it became the De Anza Motel until it was sold again in 1957 and became the Tucson Holiday Motel. During the 1950s, construction on Interstate 10 in Arizona was occurring which, when completed, led to traffic bypassing the Miracle Mile area. By the middle of the 1960s most tourist traffic was using the new Interstate 10 causing a decline in business and an economic decline in the Miracle Mile area. == No-Tel Motel Sign ==

The No-Tel Motel featured an iconic large sign, which was a draw for many locals who wanted to drive by and see the sign. The sign survived the demolition of the property but initially its fate was uncertain. to receive and permanently house the sign. However, the day before the museum was set to retrieve the sign, it was allegedly stolen by a man wearing a cowboy hat and safety vest. After news sources ran articles about the alleged theft, the man showed up to the museum with the sign and turned it over to them. The sign was then refurbished and is now on permanent display at the museum. == References ==