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- Dirt Road Between Lansing and Michigan Agricultural College, Before and After Improvements, 1905-1906 - The establishment of the Michigan State Highway Department in 1905 made state funding available to township and county road commissions for improvements and repairs. The State Highway Commissioner published biennial reports highlighting the progress of "reward roads" -- projects funded by the state. These images from his first report show crushed stone applied to a rutted road near the state capital.

- 1905-1906
- Collections - Artifact
Dirt Road Between Lansing and Michigan Agricultural College, Before and After Improvements, 1905-1906
The establishment of the Michigan State Highway Department in 1905 made state funding available to township and county road commissions for improvements and repairs. The State Highway Commissioner published biennial reports highlighting the progress of "reward roads" -- projects funded by the state. These images from his first report show crushed stone applied to a rutted road near the state capital.
- Tin Peddler in Horse-Drawn Wagon, 1900-1920 - Tinsmiths came up with ingenious ways to sell their wares, retailing them in their shops, at local general stores, and through traveling peddlers. Some peddlers worked directly for or under contract to a tinsmith, but many were independent. They bought stock from tin shop owners and sold it in open markets or from portable carts or wagons like the one shown here.

- 1900-1920
- Collections - Artifact
Tin Peddler in Horse-Drawn Wagon, 1900-1920
Tinsmiths came up with ingenious ways to sell their wares, retailing them in their shops, at local general stores, and through traveling peddlers. Some peddlers worked directly for or under contract to a tinsmith, but many were independent. They bought stock from tin shop owners and sold it in open markets or from portable carts or wagons like the one shown here.
- Scene at the Fluela Pass, Switzerland, circa 1935 - In 1913, Henry Ford established Ford Motor Company's photographic department. Though few internal records describe company photography, remaining photographs reveal a wide range of departmental activity. Over nearly 100 years, Ford photographers documented company ventures, personal affairs, and daily life around the world. This photograph shows Fluela Pass, a historic route through the Swiss Alps.

- circa 1935
- Collections - Artifact
Scene at the Fluela Pass, Switzerland, circa 1935
In 1913, Henry Ford established Ford Motor Company's photographic department. Though few internal records describe company photography, remaining photographs reveal a wide range of departmental activity. Over nearly 100 years, Ford photographers documented company ventures, personal affairs, and daily life around the world. This photograph shows Fluela Pass, a historic route through the Swiss Alps.
- Horse-Drawn Vehicle Being Driven Down a Dirt Road, circa 1910 - In 1913, Henry Ford established Ford Motor Company's photographic department. Though few internal records describe company photography, remaining photographs reveal a wide range of departmental activity. Among many other things, Ford photographers documented a variety of road conditions and road building. This photograph shows the sort of rutted, muddy roads used by horse-drawn vehicles and early automobiles alike.

- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Horse-Drawn Vehicle Being Driven Down a Dirt Road, circa 1910
In 1913, Henry Ford established Ford Motor Company's photographic department. Though few internal records describe company photography, remaining photographs reveal a wide range of departmental activity. Among many other things, Ford photographers documented a variety of road conditions and road building. This photograph shows the sort of rutted, muddy roads used by horse-drawn vehicles and early automobiles alike.
- Road through J. W. Wells State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, circa 1950 - In 1913, Henry Ford established Ford Motor Company's photographic department. Though few internal records describe company photography, remaining photographs reveal a wide range of departmental activity. Over nearly 100 years, Ford photographers documented company ventures, personal affairs, and daily life around the world. This photograph shows a forest road through J.W. Wells State Park on Lake Michigan's Green Bay.

- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Road through J. W. Wells State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, circa 1950
In 1913, Henry Ford established Ford Motor Company's photographic department. Though few internal records describe company photography, remaining photographs reveal a wide range of departmental activity. Over nearly 100 years, Ford photographers documented company ventures, personal affairs, and daily life around the world. This photograph shows a forest road through J.W. Wells State Park on Lake Michigan's Green Bay.
- Dirt Road by a Farm, circa 1920 - In the early 1900s, hard surfaced roadways existed only in cities. Most roads were bumpy dirt paths carved with ruts from the narrow wheels of horse-drawn vehicles and torn up by the tires of heavy automobiles. They became rivers of mud at the slightest turn of weather.

- circa 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Dirt Road by a Farm, circa 1920
In the early 1900s, hard surfaced roadways existed only in cities. Most roads were bumpy dirt paths carved with ruts from the narrow wheels of horse-drawn vehicles and torn up by the tires of heavy automobiles. They became rivers of mud at the slightest turn of weather.
- Horses and Wagon Mired in Mud, Russia, New York to Paris Race, 1908 - The 1908 New York to Paris race was a 22,000-mile automobile endurance contest. Teams would have to drive their cars through cold, snow and rain and usually on poor roads. In May, the three remaining teams headed west from Vladivostok, Russia. Roads in Siberia were muddy and sometimes impassable. Getting stuck seemed to be a common occurrence.

- 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Horses and Wagon Mired in Mud, Russia, New York to Paris Race, 1908
The 1908 New York to Paris race was a 22,000-mile automobile endurance contest. Teams would have to drive their cars through cold, snow and rain and usually on poor roads. In May, the three remaining teams headed west from Vladivostok, Russia. Roads in Siberia were muddy and sometimes impassable. Getting stuck seemed to be a common occurrence.
- "Waltz Road, South of New Boston, Before and After Improvement," Wayne County, Michigan, 1924-1925 - The establishment of the Michigan State Highway Department in 1905 made state funding available to local road commissions for improvements and repairs. Township and county road commissioners submitted reports highlighting the progress of "reward roads"--projects funded by the state. Wayne County's 1924-1925 report included these images showing a recently paved road in southeast Michigan.

- 1924-1925
- Collections - Artifact
"Waltz Road, South of New Boston, Before and After Improvement," Wayne County, Michigan, 1924-1925
The establishment of the Michigan State Highway Department in 1905 made state funding available to local road commissions for improvements and repairs. Township and county road commissioners submitted reports highlighting the progress of "reward roads"--projects funded by the state. Wayne County's 1924-1925 report included these images showing a recently paved road in southeast Michigan.
- Crow Hill, Cow in Bedford Ave., 1890-1915 - In 1890, Jenny Young Chandler, 25 years old and recently widowed, began working for the <em>New York Herald</em>. As a photojournalist and feature writer, Chandler captured life in Brooklyn, New York, and vicinity. By 1922, the time of her death, she had produced over 800 glass plate negatives. Her sensitive, insightful photographs depict people from all walks of life and the world in which they lived.

- 1890-1915
- Collections - Artifact
Crow Hill, Cow in Bedford Ave., 1890-1915
In 1890, Jenny Young Chandler, 25 years old and recently widowed, began working for the New York Herald. As a photojournalist and feature writer, Chandler captured life in Brooklyn, New York, and vicinity. By 1922, the time of her death, she had produced over 800 glass plate negatives. Her sensitive, insightful photographs depict people from all walks of life and the world in which they lived.
- Country Road, circa 1920 - In the early 1900s, hard surfaced roadways existed only in cities. Most roads were bumpy dirt paths carved with ruts from the narrow wheels of horse-drawn vehicles and torn up by the tires of heavy automobiles. They became rivers of mud at the slightest turn of weather.

- circa 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Country Road, circa 1920
In the early 1900s, hard surfaced roadways existed only in cities. Most roads were bumpy dirt paths carved with ruts from the narrow wheels of horse-drawn vehicles and torn up by the tires of heavy automobiles. They became rivers of mud at the slightest turn of weather.