Few people have shaped the legacy of Route 66 more than Angel Delgadillo. Born in Seligman in 1927, he watched the highway bring prosperity — and then near silence — when the interstate bypassed his hometown. Refusing to let the road die, Angel picked up his scissors, his voice, and his joy, welcoming travelers with laughter and history from his small barbershop on the main drag.
This portrait was made in his honor using the wet plate collodion process, a method as enduring and handmade as the man himself. The silver and glass catch the texture of his face — lines carved by sun, time, and kindness — revealing both the storyteller and the dreamer within.
Part of the NomadType Route 66 series, this image isn’t just a likeness; it’s a tribute to the enduring spirit of community, humor, and hospitality that Angel embodied. For many, he is Route 66 — a living bridge between the past and what still lies ahead on the open road.
Few people have shaped the legacy of Route 66 more than Angel Delgadillo. Born in Seligman in 1927, he watched the highway bring prosperity — and then near silence — when the interstate bypassed his hometown. Refusing to let the road die, Angel picked up his scissors, his voice, and his joy, welcoming travelers with laughter and history from his small barbershop on the main drag.
This portrait was made in his honor using the wet plate collodion process, a method as enduring and handmade as the man himself. The silver and glass catch the texture of his face — lines carved by sun, time, and kindness — revealing both the storyteller and the dreamer within.
Part of the NomadType Route 66 series, this image isn’t just a likeness; it’s a tribute to the enduring spirit of community, humor, and hospitality that Angel embodied. For many, he is Route 66 — a living bridge between the past and what still lies ahead on the open road.
