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For over 100 years, travelers have checked into US motel rooms and found the Gideon Bible
Summary by The Odessa Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Associated Press , as published by Odessa American (oaoa.com)
· August 30, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: Odessa American (oaoa.com) · view original
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Summary created by The Odessa Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Associated Press, as published by Odessa American (oaoa.com) Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 30, 2026 Indexed here Aug 30, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key points An organization founded in 1899 is behind its widespread presence. Countless travelers have encountered a familiar item in American hotel and motel rooms.
Countless travelers have encountered a familiar item in American hotel and motel rooms. This object has become a symbol of the country's roadside culture and Protestant tradition. It has been mentioned in various forms of media, including lyrics and films. An organization founded in 1899 is behind its widespread presence. The group's efforts have made it a common find in bedside drawers for over a century.
Further details about this phenomenon are available. The organization responsible has a long history, and its impact on American culture is notable.
This item's presence has been a part of many people's experiences, and its significance extends beyond its original purpose.
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Odessa American (oaoa.com) reported and published this story. The Odessa selected it, summarised the key facts above, and links to the original. We did not report this story and we added no reporting of our own to it.
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Category: News ·
Published: August 30, 2026 ·
Source: Odessa American (oaoa.com) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Countless travelers have encountered a familiar item in American hotel and motel rooms. This object has become a symbol of the country's roadside culture and Protestant tradition. It has been…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 30, 2026 by Odessa American (oaoa.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Associated Press at Odessa American (oaoa.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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