1971 Honda CB750 Motorcycle

Drop the top, and cruise like a movie star! It sounds like fun. But movie stars live in sunny California -- most of us don't. Convertibles may draw people into showrooms, but sedans take them home. In 1956, only about 2.6 percent of Chevy customers drove home in ragtops. Despite that fact, the carefree appeal of 1950s convertibles has made them a symbol of that era.

This 1858 Rogers steam locomotive is typical of those used in the United States in the second half of the 19th century. Its flexible wheel arrangement, high power output, and light weight were well suited to the tight curves, steep grades, and hastily constructed track that characterized American railroads. This locomotive struck an agreeable balance between practicality, safety, and economy.

Starting in the 1970s, concerns about traffic congestion, pollution and the plight of cities spurred the construction of new commuter transit systems. This postcard celebrates the 1972 opening of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit's (BART) Lake Merritt station in Oakland, California. The reproduction BART ticket was "not usable for passage."