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- Pennant, "Hawaii, The 50th State," 1958-1968 - Tourists purchase simple, inexpensive souvenirs as proof of their travels. These mementos transport vacationers back to the places they visited and the things they did. In the mid-20th century, felt pennants were trendy. This colorful pennant provided visitors returning from Hawaii -- the most recent state to enter the Union -- a map of the Pacific islands grouping along with other tropical scenes.

- 1958-1968
- Collections - Artifact
Pennant, "Hawaii, The 50th State," 1958-1968
Tourists purchase simple, inexpensive souvenirs as proof of their travels. These mementos transport vacationers back to the places they visited and the things they did. In the mid-20th century, felt pennants were trendy. This colorful pennant provided visitors returning from Hawaii -- the most recent state to enter the Union -- a map of the Pacific islands grouping along with other tropical scenes.
- Souvenir Postcard, "The Longhorn Ranch," Moriarty, New Mexico, 1940-1950 - Federal Highway 66 (more commonly known as Route 66) was established in 1926, and spanned 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. Longhorn Ranch, located 48 miles east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, consisted of a restaurant, gas station, and curio shop. It promised travelers "a revival of the Old West amid a setting of modern convenience."

- 1940-1950
- Collections - Artifact
Souvenir Postcard, "The Longhorn Ranch," Moriarty, New Mexico, 1940-1950
Federal Highway 66 (more commonly known as Route 66) was established in 1926, and spanned 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. Longhorn Ranch, located 48 miles east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, consisted of a restaurant, gas station, and curio shop. It promised travelers "a revival of the Old West amid a setting of modern convenience."
- "Sight Seeing Trailer Train, St. Augustine, Florida," circa 1950 - St. Augustine, Florida, dating back to Spanish occupation in the 1500s, became a popular winter resort for wealthy northerners in the 1880s when the railroad came to town. By the 1950s, most tourists arrived by automobile -- though they could still tour the historic city by "train" in rubber-tired trailer vehicles like this.

- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
"Sight Seeing Trailer Train, St. Augustine, Florida," circa 1950
St. Augustine, Florida, dating back to Spanish occupation in the 1500s, became a popular winter resort for wealthy northerners in the 1880s when the railroad came to town. By the 1950s, most tourists arrived by automobile -- though they could still tour the historic city by "train" in rubber-tired trailer vehicles like this.
- Reno, "The Biggest Little City in the World," Pennant, 1950-1959 - Travelers often return home with souvenirs that serve as tangible reminders of places visited. Felt pennants were a popular choice of vacationing Americans in the mid-1900s. This example is from Reno, Nevada. The desert city, known as <em>The Biggest Little City in the World</em>, became famous for its casinos.

- 1950-1959
- Collections - Artifact
Reno, "The Biggest Little City in the World," Pennant, 1950-1959
Travelers often return home with souvenirs that serve as tangible reminders of places visited. Felt pennants were a popular choice of vacationing Americans in the mid-1900s. This example is from Reno, Nevada. The desert city, known as The Biggest Little City in the World, became famous for its casinos.
- Group Portrait of Tourists, circa 1950 -

- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Group Portrait of Tourists, circa 1950
- "Desert View Looking North, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona," circa 1910 - This postcard shows a group of tourists relaxing at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Scenic postcards became a way to remember vacations or to tell others about travel experiences.

- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
"Desert View Looking North, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona," circa 1910
This postcard shows a group of tourists relaxing at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Scenic postcards became a way to remember vacations or to tell others about travel experiences.
- Travel Brochure for Port Huron, Michigan, circa 1945 - The first automobile clubs were established to organize motoring tours and lobby for better roads. In time, their missions expanded to include other services. The Automobile Club of Michigan, founded in 1916, promoted tourism in the Great Lakes State by distributing maps, and by publishing guides to many of the state's restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions.

- circa 1945
- Collections - Artifact
Travel Brochure for Port Huron, Michigan, circa 1945
The first automobile clubs were established to organize motoring tours and lobby for better roads. In time, their missions expanded to include other services. The Automobile Club of Michigan, founded in 1916, promoted tourism in the Great Lakes State by distributing maps, and by publishing guides to many of the state's restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions.
- Southeastern Michigan Tourist Association Sign, 1950-1960 - As cities and towns tried to encourage tourism, formal associations were created to promote and market them. Tourism bureaus and tourist information centers offered maps, brochures, guidebooks, and experts who could provide insight on local area attractions. This sign, which would have been posted at one of these places, promised advice and materials on tourist attractions in southeastern Michigan.

- 1950-1960
- Collections - Artifact
Southeastern Michigan Tourist Association Sign, 1950-1960
As cities and towns tried to encourage tourism, formal associations were created to promote and market them. Tourism bureaus and tourist information centers offered maps, brochures, guidebooks, and experts who could provide insight on local area attractions. This sign, which would have been posted at one of these places, promised advice and materials on tourist attractions in southeastern Michigan.
- Travel Brochure, "Utah the Friendly State Bids You Welcome," circa 1950 - After the Second World War, many Americans took to the road to find rest and relaxation. Viewing brochures helped travelers decide where to go on vacation. This ca. 1950 brochure made for the Utah State Department of Publicity and Industrial Development welcomed travelers to the friendly land of Utah.

- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Travel Brochure, "Utah the Friendly State Bids You Welcome," circa 1950
After the Second World War, many Americans took to the road to find rest and relaxation. Viewing brochures helped travelers decide where to go on vacation. This ca. 1950 brochure made for the Utah State Department of Publicity and Industrial Development welcomed travelers to the friendly land of Utah.
- Tourists Posing near Cigar Sign, circa 1950 -

- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Tourists Posing near Cigar Sign, circa 1950