Why? Because it’s a motel for Martians, that’s why! Image courtesy of x-ray delta one.

Slightly in honor of, but really having nothing to do with Inaugural Tuesday, I present a Googie Two-fer! The above is a spectacular rotosphere decked out in patriotic red, white and blue. (See?? Slight relevance!!)

The below is quite Googie, not at all patriotic, not really that space-y looking, but very familiar to me, as it resides in Dunsmuir, California, just down Interstate 5 from my home town of Mount Shasta. (I believe it’s called the Hitching Post.) I saw it in a sea of southern California Googie and chuckled.

I found this gorgeous photo on Etsy, and it’s just too space-tacular to not be Googie, so I’m posting it. (Unfortunately the photographer doesn’t list anything about where the sign is located.)

Edit, April 28, 2010: Thanks to Mike in the comments for letting me know where this sign is located!

This sign is located on State highway 51 between Coweta and Broken Arrow Oklahoma. You can see it on google maps but not too well at this address- 25212 Oklahoma 51, Coweta, OK, United States

This lovely starburst was sent my way by Brian — the Bessemer, Alabama Holiday Inn, circa 1957. I find the sign extremely enticing, myself. The present-day photos of the former-Holiday-Inn property, not so much.

I think it’s the colors and composition of this photo that make me love it so. (Photo by helveticaneue.)

A fantastic Sputnik-y sign, photo by embellezca:

I was so in love with this little Sputnik wannabe. It was once the sign for Satellite Shopland in Anaheim, but didn’t enjoy a long life due to the Disney-fication of the area.

Within the Theme Building at LAX Airport — circa 1961 — is the Encounter Lounge, the interior of which is simply fabulous. Photos by Telstar Logistics.

The interior of the restaurant was designed by Ed Sotto and Ellen Guevara for Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). WDI designer Michael Valentino created the interior of the building and exterior lighting program. (WDI is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production management, and research and development subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.)

The Theme Building was part of an overall $50-million “Los Angeles Jet Age Terminal Construction” project, which began in 1960. The building itself was completed in August 1961 at a cost of $2.2 million. On December 18, 1992, the Los Angeles City Council designated the Theme Building a City Cultural and Historical Monument.

What satellites have to do with burgers is anyone’s guess, but they’re two great tastes that taste great together — photo by larry&flo.

For sheer design and simplicity, this is one of the best neon signs I’ve seen — photo by Matt.

A strange flying saucer in Phoenix, Arizona — photo by oybay.