THESIS DECELERATION: RE-INVISIONING THE HIGHWAY REST STOP Catholic University of America/Fall 2023 - Present This thesis examines the meaning and purpose of rest in the 21st century by looking at highway rest stops as a site for reconnecting us with ourselves, others, and the world around us. The act of resting in today's society can feel discomforting as it pulls us out of the fast-paced, productivity-driven lifestyle that we all have come to unconsciously conform to. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, we became fascinated by speed and in the 21st century, we are fixated on speed; but how does it impact our physical, emotional, and mental well-being? Speed has the potential to erode cultural conditions as well as our sense of self as well as our connection to others and the environment. The highway vehicular journey is just one metaphorical representation for our fixation and dependence on speed. The American road trip, along with the experience of roadside eateries, motels, and rest stops, became a cultural phenomenon and joy of Americans in the 1950s, but today our experience of rest stops is often rushed, unpleasant, and disembodied. Since the establishment of the 1960 ban on commercial services at federal highway rest areas, there has been a decline in effort to maintain them which has consequently resulted in a lack of visitation. This decline signals there is an opportunity to reinvision the potential opportunities that the highway rest stop could afford in enhancing our connectedness to others, our environment, and the present moment. This thesis will utilize a site along I-22 in Fulton, Mississippi, which is currently one of the longest stretches of highway without a rest stop, to re-envision the potential of the highway rest stop to be a catalyst for human connection that envirogates our physical, social, and sacred restfulness.
Itawamba Community College
Early Church Site Historical Af. Am. Cemetery
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Itawamba Agricultural High School
KEY Landmarks
Site
Education
Town limits
Grocery Stores Current vehicular path to site Underground Railroad Bike Route
Fulton is named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat The city was incorporated on May 11, 1837 Located on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Underground Railroad Bicycle Route runs through the town which stretches from Mobile to Ontario Mississippi Blues Trail - Jimmie Lunceford 3 cemeteries in proximity to site: Maxey Cemetery, Moore Cemetery, Old Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
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