Backdrop of beauty

This vibrant little commercial strip is located in West Yellowstone, Mont. U.S. Highway 191 led vacationers to the nation’s first national park: Yellowstone. But if folks needed extra supplies, gas or a meal, these roadside stops provided it. This top photo, from the 1960s, shows competing gas stations like Chevron, Texaco and Mobil, all drenched [...]

Close cover before striking

Curators, here at the Museum, pour over an extensive collection of ephemera, including matchbook covers. These dimunitive examples of advertising showcase roadside stops and attractions along America’s highways. These covers from Texas and Ohio are real beauties. The Grande Courts in San Antonio were managed by Lon P. Piper and boasted of “America’s Finest Tourist [...]

The air-conditioned highway

“Please join us on a trip across the top of a nation, in the air-conditioned comfort of our northern climate…” so says this brochure from the 1960s. Just think, your journey could begin along the rocky shores of Maine’s Acadia National Park, head west to Niagara Falls, slice across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and cruise through [...]

Big Bear Lake

Ahhh, a nifty view, from the mid-1950s, of the busy little village of Big Bear Lake, Calif. Located at an elevation of 6,750 feet in the San Bernardino mountains. These photos show a diversity of stores, gas stations and motels that would cater to the needs of tourists. Only about 100 miles northeast of [...]

Famous Fifty

This charming 1954 highway guide is filled with an abundance of things to see and do along Highway 50. U.S. 50 stretches across the continent from Ocean City, Maryland to San Francisco, Calif. The National Highway Federation had offices in the tiny town of Ely, Nevada. The highway, especially portions in Nevada, is known as [...]

A modern Oklahoma highway

The four-lane, 88-mile Turner Turnpike was built at a cost of $38 million. It opened to traffic in May 1953. This new road saved travelers almost one hour driving time between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The turnpike diverted motorists from U.S. 66, which parallels the turnpike. As a result, many towns along this stretch of [...]

Check out these maps

I wrote a piece that appeared today in The Kansas City Star. The story was about the many navigation choices travelers have when they hit the road. GPS devices, online mapping services and, of course, the traditional road map. Well, I bet you can guess what I like to use. Anyhow, here is a link [...]

Much to see in Amarillo

Eastbound U.S. 66 created a grand commercial strip through this panhandle city in Texas. Just look at all the highway icons in this early 1960s photo: a Mobil gas pegasus, a looming Holiday Inn sign, a Rexall drug store, even a car hauling a gorgeous travel trailer. Stop for gas (29 cents a gallon), pick [...]

Best in the West

This sparkling little booklet was handed out by Standard gas stations in 1936. It is filled with fantastical descriptions of western scenes and cities. Here is a description of Southern California: Huge, astonishingly varied – what a place to play! Deserts with their tonic sunshine. Miles of orange and date groves. Foamy breakers on semi-tropical [...]

Modern air-conditioned motels

Based in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., Tourinns Inc. offered lodging at six motels. Many of this chain’s units were located along America’s new interstates and turnpikes, especially in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Tourinns offered motorists reliable and familiar services, including an onsite restaurant, service station and TV lounge. This colorful brochure, probably from the late 1950s, [...]