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- "The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways," 1964 - The Interstate Highway System includes more than 48,000 miles of controlled-access roadways spanning the United States. Championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the system was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The network as originally envisioned was completed in 1992, but expansions continue. It remains the largest public works project in history.
- 1964
- Collections - Artifact
"The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways," 1964
The Interstate Highway System includes more than 48,000 miles of controlled-access roadways spanning the United States. Championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the system was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The network as originally envisioned was completed in 1992, but expansions continue. It remains the largest public works project in history.
- Caterpillar Tractor Ad, "Under Construction: Open Road to a Golden Age," 1957 - 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.
- 1957
- Collections - Artifact
Caterpillar Tractor Ad, "Under Construction: Open Road to a Golden Age," 1957
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.
- "The Road Ahead, the Exciting Story of the Nation's 50 Billion Dollar Road Program," 1956 - This 1956 publication, produced by Caterpillar Tractor Company, promoted the proposed Interstate Highway System. Photographs show well laid out interchanges and uncongested highways. A central map displays the 41,000 miles of expressways intended for completion by 1971. Authorized through the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, the project's scope grew and it wasn't finished until 1992.
- 1956
- Collections - Artifact
"The Road Ahead, the Exciting Story of the Nation's 50 Billion Dollar Road Program," 1956
This 1956 publication, produced by Caterpillar Tractor Company, promoted the proposed Interstate Highway System. Photographs show well laid out interchanges and uncongested highways. A central map displays the 41,000 miles of expressways intended for completion by 1971. Authorized through the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, the project's scope grew and it wasn't finished until 1992.
- Funding the Interstate Highway System -
- December 10, 2020
- Collections - Set
Funding the Interstate Highway System
- Complimentary Bar Soap from Amtrak, 1971-1980 - Interstate highways and expanding airlines ate away at passenger train revenues in the 1950s and 1960s -- and left American railroads eager to exit the passenger business. In 1971, the federal government formed Amtrak to operate passenger trains. The Amtrak network ranged from relatively short regional routes to long-distance trains that traveled more than 2,000 miles.
- 1971-1980
- Collections - Artifact
Complimentary Bar Soap from Amtrak, 1971-1980
Interstate highways and expanding airlines ate away at passenger train revenues in the 1950s and 1960s -- and left American railroads eager to exit the passenger business. In 1971, the federal government formed Amtrak to operate passenger trains. The Amtrak network ranged from relatively short regional routes to long-distance trains that traveled more than 2,000 miles.
- Button, "SOS Support FedeRail," circa 1973 - American railroads were suffering in the early 1970s. Competition from trucks on expanding Interstate highways triggered a series of bankruptcies. Public ownership, under the name "FedeRail," was one proposed solution. Instead, Congress created Conrail in 1976. With considerable government financial assistance, the quasi-federal Conrail company abandoned excess track, improved service, and became fully privatized in 1986.
- circa 1973
- Collections - Artifact
Button, "SOS Support FedeRail," circa 1973
American railroads were suffering in the early 1970s. Competition from trucks on expanding Interstate highways triggered a series of bankruptcies. Public ownership, under the name "FedeRail," was one proposed solution. Instead, Congress created Conrail in 1976. With considerable government financial assistance, the quasi-federal Conrail company abandoned excess track, improved service, and became fully privatized in 1986.
- Helicopter Flying over 3-Level Highway, circa 1940 - Highway improvements helped wartime workers travel between downtown Detroit and Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant. The tri-level interchange seen here provided direct access to the factory from the Willow Run Expressway, opened in September 1942. The Willow Run Expressway also connected with the Detroit Industrial Expressway, built at the same time. These highways later evolved into Interstate 94.
- circa 1940
- Collections - Artifact
Helicopter Flying over 3-Level Highway, circa 1940
Highway improvements helped wartime workers travel between downtown Detroit and Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant. The tri-level interchange seen here provided direct access to the factory from the Willow Run Expressway, opened in September 1942. The Willow Run Expressway also connected with the Detroit Industrial Expressway, built at the same time. These highways later evolved into Interstate 94.
- Poster, "Proclamation of the Route of the Lincoln Highway," 1913 - This poster details the planned route of the Lincoln Highway, the first improved transcontinental road. The road was planned by a private group of auto industry magnates, politicians and other big-thinkers, not by the federal government, as interstate highways are today. The poster asked for the assistance of states, counties and individuals along the road as well as monetary donations.
- 1913
- Collections - Artifact
Poster, "Proclamation of the Route of the Lincoln Highway," 1913
This poster details the planned route of the Lincoln Highway, the first improved transcontinental road. The road was planned by a private group of auto industry magnates, politicians and other big-thinkers, not by the federal government, as interstate highways are today. The poster asked for the assistance of states, counties and individuals along the road as well as monetary donations.
- Road Construction in the Midwestern United States, circa 1950 - In the 1950s, road construction in the United States became national in scope. Workers built multi-lane state turnpikes and federally funded interstate highways, and then connected them to create - for the first time - a web of smooth motorway that spanned the country. This photograph of a construction project in the Midwest illustrates the massive scale of the highway system.
- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Road Construction in the Midwestern United States, circa 1950
In the 1950s, road construction in the United States became national in scope. Workers built multi-lane state turnpikes and federally funded interstate highways, and then connected them to create - for the first time - a web of smooth motorway that spanned the country. This photograph of a construction project in the Midwest illustrates the massive scale of the highway system.
- Road Construction in the Midwestern United States, circa 1950 - In the 1950s, road construction in the United States became national in scope. Workers built multi-lane state turnpikes and federally funded interstate highways, and then connected them to create - for the first time - a web of smooth motorway that spanned the country. This photograph of a construction project in the Midwest illustrates the massive scale of the highway system.
- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Road Construction in the Midwestern United States, circa 1950
In the 1950s, road construction in the United States became national in scope. Workers built multi-lane state turnpikes and federally funded interstate highways, and then connected them to create - for the first time - a web of smooth motorway that spanned the country. This photograph of a construction project in the Midwest illustrates the massive scale of the highway system.