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- Cleveland Municipal Transit Token, 1908 - Operating and financing a streetcar business was complicated. This token from Cleveland dates from a turbulent period where a privately owned streetcar company was in the process of transferring its operations to the city, further complicated by a transit strike. For riders, the immediate effect of the merger agreement was an affordable 3-cent fare.

- 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Cleveland Municipal Transit Token, 1908
Operating and financing a streetcar business was complicated. This token from Cleveland dates from a turbulent period where a privately owned streetcar company was in the process of transferring its operations to the city, further complicated by a transit strike. For riders, the immediate effect of the merger agreement was an affordable 3-cent fare.
- The Lobby, Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone Park, 1904-1905 - Yellowstone National Park, established 1872, was America's first national park. Old Faithful Inn, a grand hotel built alongside Old Faithful geyser in 1903-4, was the first true rustic-style western resort. Architect Robert Reamer designed it to fit in with nature rather than--like other fancy resorts--to provide an escape from it. The interior continued the rustic look.

- 1904-1905
- Collections - Artifact
The Lobby, Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone Park, 1904-1905
Yellowstone National Park, established 1872, was America's first national park. Old Faithful Inn, a grand hotel built alongside Old Faithful geyser in 1903-4, was the first true rustic-style western resort. Architect Robert Reamer designed it to fit in with nature rather than--like other fancy resorts--to provide an escape from it. The interior continued the rustic look.
- Airplane Flying over Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Michigan, 1931 - Edsel and Henry Ford conceived the Dearborn Inn as a business opportunity, a first-class hotel hosting pilots and travelers transiting through the adjacent Ford Airport. It is noted as one of the first airport hotels. It also served traveling Ford employees and dealers, and visitors to the nearby Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford).

- 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Airplane Flying over Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Michigan, 1931
Edsel and Henry Ford conceived the Dearborn Inn as a business opportunity, a first-class hotel hosting pilots and travelers transiting through the adjacent Ford Airport. It is noted as one of the first airport hotels. It also served traveling Ford employees and dealers, and visitors to the nearby Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford).
- Telegram from John Wriston to A. J. Lepine (for Edsel Ford) Arranging Meeting to Discuss Dearborn Inn Colonial Village, April 5, 1937 - By the mid-1930s, the Dearborn Inn, a popular luxury hotel, required additional accommodations to service travelers and visitors to the Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford). The L.G. Treadway Service Corporation consulted with Edsel Ford about proposed upgrades that included a swimming pool, pool house, landscaping, and a "Colonial Village" of guest houses (replicas of homes famous in American history).

- April 05, 1937
- Collections - Artifact
Telegram from John Wriston to A. J. Lepine (for Edsel Ford) Arranging Meeting to Discuss Dearborn Inn Colonial Village, April 5, 1937
By the mid-1930s, the Dearborn Inn, a popular luxury hotel, required additional accommodations to service travelers and visitors to the Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford). The L.G. Treadway Service Corporation consulted with Edsel Ford about proposed upgrades that included a swimming pool, pool house, landscaping, and a "Colonial Village" of guest houses (replicas of homes famous in American history).
- Postcard, "Memorial Library, Port Arthur, Texas," circa 1925 - Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. Free public libraries began to spread in the early 1900s. For communities able to fund them, public library buildings -- usually among the most imposing structures in town -- became sources of civic pride.

- circa 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Memorial Library, Port Arthur, Texas," circa 1925
Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. Free public libraries began to spread in the early 1900s. For communities able to fund them, public library buildings -- usually among the most imposing structures in town -- became sources of civic pride.
- Postcard, The Spalding Hotel, Duluth, Minnesota, 1914 - Automobiles, an electric streetcar, a horse-drawn buggy, and pedestrians are seen traveling down the street in front of the Spalding Hotel in Duluth, Minnesota, in this circa 1910 postcard. Proprietors opened the hotel in 1899 to cater mainly to railroad passengers. But by the time this postcard was made, more and more motorists were stopping to use the accommodations.

- 1914
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, The Spalding Hotel, Duluth, Minnesota, 1914
Automobiles, an electric streetcar, a horse-drawn buggy, and pedestrians are seen traveling down the street in front of the Spalding Hotel in Duluth, Minnesota, in this circa 1910 postcard. Proprietors opened the hotel in 1899 to cater mainly to railroad passengers. But by the time this postcard was made, more and more motorists were stopping to use the accommodations.
- Postcard, "The Free Library of Philadelphia," circa 1930 - Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. In some communities, wealthy citizens funded libraries. Philadelphia philanthropist George Seckel Pepper bequeathed $225,000 in 1889 to establish The Free Library of Philadelphia. The Free Library system's massive Central Library, pictured here, opened in 1927.

- circa 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "The Free Library of Philadelphia," circa 1930
Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. In some communities, wealthy citizens funded libraries. Philadelphia philanthropist George Seckel Pepper bequeathed $225,000 in 1889 to establish The Free Library of Philadelphia. The Free Library system's massive Central Library, pictured here, opened in 1927.
- Brochure, "Some Facts regarding the Oliver Wolcott House," Dearborn Inn Colonial Village, 1937 - By the mid-1930s, the Dearborn Inn, a popular luxury hotel, required additional accommodations to service travelers and visitors to the Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford). The L.G. Treadway Service Corporation consulted with Edsel Ford and had five reproduction houses constructed behind the Inn. The exteriors were exact replicas of homes famous in American history, but guests found modern amenities inside.

- 1937
- Collections - Artifact
Brochure, "Some Facts regarding the Oliver Wolcott House," Dearborn Inn Colonial Village, 1937
By the mid-1930s, the Dearborn Inn, a popular luxury hotel, required additional accommodations to service travelers and visitors to the Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford). The L.G. Treadway Service Corporation consulted with Edsel Ford and had five reproduction houses constructed behind the Inn. The exteriors were exact replicas of homes famous in American history, but guests found modern amenities inside.
- Brochure, "Some Facts regarding the Walt Whitman House," Dearborn Inn Colonial Village, 1937 - By the mid-1930s, the Dearborn Inn, a popular luxury hotel, required additional accommodations to service travelers and visitors to the Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford). The L.G. Treadway Service Corporation consulted with Edsel Ford and had five reproduction houses constructed behind the Inn. The exteriors were exact replicas of homes famous in American history, but guests found modern amenities inside.

- 1937
- Collections - Artifact
Brochure, "Some Facts regarding the Walt Whitman House," Dearborn Inn Colonial Village, 1937
By the mid-1930s, the Dearborn Inn, a popular luxury hotel, required additional accommodations to service travelers and visitors to the Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford). The L.G. Treadway Service Corporation consulted with Edsel Ford and had five reproduction houses constructed behind the Inn. The exteriors were exact replicas of homes famous in American history, but guests found modern amenities inside.
- Postcard, "Toledo, O. Public Library," circa 1900 - Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. In communities with dedicated public library buildings (often among the most imposing structures in town), they were sources of civic pride. This building housed the Lucas County (Ohio) library from its opening in 1890 until 1940.

- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Toledo, O. Public Library," circa 1900
Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. In communities with dedicated public library buildings (often among the most imposing structures in town), they were sources of civic pride. This building housed the Lucas County (Ohio) library from its opening in 1890 until 1940.