Caterpillar Tractor Ad, "Under Construction: Open Road to a Golden Age," 1957

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Artifact Overview

Companies like Catepillar saw promise in the new Interstate Highway System of the late 1950s. This 1957 Catepillar advertisement highlighted not only the safety and convenience the new roads would afford drivers, but also the prosperity and security they would provide American citizens.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Advertisement

Subject Date

1957

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

99.145.240

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 13.25 in.
Width: 9.375 in.

Inscriptions

Text at top of page: Caterpillar reports on the / greatest construction job in history. Text under image: UNDER CONSTRUCTION: OPEN ROAD TO A GOLDEN AGE / Our $50 billion highway program promises more than safe, convenient driving. It / means new prosperity and a new way of life for millions- and greater security for all... Text below begins: On August 10, 1956 a Caterpillar D8 Tractor / 'dozed our the first bite of earth to be / moved under provisions of our gigantic Federal / -aid highway program. Sine then fleets of big yellow earthmovers have gone into / action all over the country. they are build-/ ing literally, a better way of life for us and / our children.
Caterpillar Tractor Ad, "Under Construction: Open Road to a Golden Age," 1957