"Top-of-the-Tollway" Dining at the Fred Harvey Restaurant Spanning the Illinois Tollway, circa 1959

01

Artifact Overview

Fred Harvey is credited with creating America's first restaurant chain. Starting in the 1870s, he established Harvey House restaurants along the Santa Fe Railway. As railroad passenger travel declined in the 20th century, Harvey's company began serving motorists. In the 1950s, it operated "oasis" rest areas on the Illinois Tollway where drivers could stop for food and fuel.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

circa 1959

Subject Date

circa 1959

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

87.135.1815

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Automobile Club of Michigan.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process
Typewriting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.125 in
Width: 10 in