The Americans by Aaron Patton

09/09/2026

No. 0333 - Hotelier
born: Dallas, TX
photographed: Tucumcari, NM

Not every person I add to the archive is planned. We didn't have a tour stop in Tucumcari, just a late night arrival and early morning exit on the long drive back from Window Rock to Wichita.

But, we stopped at the Roadrunner Lodge right there on Route 66, a perfect throwback spot - 60s ads on the radio in the room when you first walk in, everything from the towels to the fixtures redone to feel like you stepped back in time. It was late when we checked in, but the owner was there to hand us a key.

I walked out to go to our room...and then turned around and walked right back into the lobby. Told No. 0333 about the project, asked if he'd be around in the morning when there was more light. It was a Friday night, but he was set to be there bright and early Saturday, too.

In talking to him, we learned that he bought the place in shambles in 2014 (like other nearby abandoned motels) and turned it into the USA Today number 1 best roadside motel in 2021.

By 2025 when we stopped through, the magic was still there. One of the few bright spots (literally and figuratively) left on the Mother Road in Tucumcari.

07/04/2026

06/30/2026

No. 0164 - Remodeling Contractor
b. Rosebud, SD
p. Wichita, KS (2025)

In his words:

Honored to be featured as No. 0164 in The Americans by Aaron Patton.

Born in Rosebud. Built in struggle. Grounded in purpose.
I carry my story in every scar, every tile I lay, and every home I rebuild.

I represent the ones who weren’t supposed to make it, the ones who rise anyway. The ones who remember where they come from and build something better-brick by brick
—for the ones coming next.

From the rez to the city, l’m not just remodeling homes — I’m restoring dignity, reclaiming legacy, and proving that tradition and craftsmanship still matter.

Wopila, Aaron, for seeing me.

06/18/2026

No. 0560 - Psychologist
born: Albert Lea, MN
photographed: Watertown, SD (2026)

His entire career was working with veterans, hearing their stories, re-living the stories they’ve kept buried. So, I asked him to look at the camera as though he was hearing a new patient speak for the first time.

06/03/2026

🔈sound on 🔈 THE AMERICANS is an archive being built of people, stories, identities at a time of turmoil and progress, unrest and upheaval, as the nation ends its first quarter millennium.

With portraits and oral histories from every corner of the nation, this project isn’t setting out to make any claims, but instead simply seeks evidence.

05/01/2026

Next tour starts at Niobrara, NE, in 10 days! We’re doing a different approach this time - always iterating and testing the best ways to do things. If you know anyone in Fargo, ND; Medora, ND; or Scottsbluff, NE, tag them in the comments.

In the meantime, here is No. 0491 from Texarkana.

04/24/2026

Last Fall, I introduced the “Story Line” where participants in the series could call in and leave a two-minute story of themselves for the archive. In their words, not mine.

The portraits are my version of people. The stories are theirs.

04/16/2026

UPDATE | If I photographed you in:

Springfield, MO
West Plains, MO
Memphis, TN
Tupelo, MS
Laurel, MS
New Orleans, LA

Grab that card Christina gave you and hit the link - photos are there.

Baton Rouge…you’re next.

04/08/2026

I’ve been terrible about posting while on this tour - truth be told, I’ve spent almost the entire time either at the venue or holed up in a hotel room replying to hundreds of Facebook comments trying to get people to come to these events! (If anyone wants to volunteer as social media manager, speak up).

But Lafayette day was different. The Lafayette setup got cancelled at the last minute due to a venue conflict, and I was damn sure not leaving that city without a portrait. After a lot of poking around Google Maps, I can across an apiary with a 24-hour self-serve honey store with payment on the honor system.

Yes, please.

So, instead of setting up at an iconic Cajun music venue like we’d planned, I called Marcia here from her phone number that’s on her honey jar label, and she invited us out instantly! We spent the afternoon with her and it was perfect. We may only have one portrait from Lafayette, but it packs the best story we have yet from this tour.

I may need to start a little video series telling the stories of some of these images. What do you think?