As automobile transportation exploded in the first half of the 20th century, the service station became a part of everyday life for a growing number of Americans. These roadside stops provided necessary goods and services for the motoring public while featuring diverse aesthetics and promoting brand loyalty. Central Pennsylvania has always been a hub for transit. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, motorists passing through central Pennsylvania had an ever-increasing number of service stations from which to choose. With the state capital Harrisburg at its core, this area has experienced marked growth while managing to preserve much of the historic beauty for which it is known. Lost Service Stations of Central Pennsylvania is a showcase of those stations and the people who owned them and a tribute to the beauty of a bygone era. Jimmy Rosen is an avid collector of petroliana and other 20th-century pop culture memorabilia. Emily McCoy has a passion for Harrisburg history and has collaborated with Rosen since 2019.

Many of the photographs are from Rosen's private collection. Although Jeff Arch left Harrisburg for Hollywoood many years ago, he still has connections and warm memories of growing up in central Pennsylvania. Arch is best known for penning the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle. In the foreword, he fondly remembers a specialty sandwich from a Harrisburg gas station. The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.