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- Photograph Album, 1951 Glidden Tour - The original Glidden Tours, sponsored by AAA from 1904-1913, promoted both automobiles and road improvements. AAA and the Veteran Motor Car Club of America revived the annual tours in 1946 for owners of vintage automobiles. This time, the focus was more on pleasure than promotion. Participants often dressed in period costume, and they staged impromptu car shows along the way.
- September 01, 1951
- Collections - Artifact
Photograph Album, 1951 Glidden Tour
The original Glidden Tours, sponsored by AAA from 1904-1913, promoted both automobiles and road improvements. AAA and the Veteran Motor Car Club of America revived the annual tours in 1946 for owners of vintage automobiles. This time, the focus was more on pleasure than promotion. Participants often dressed in period costume, and they staged impromptu car shows along the way.
- Advertising Poster for the "Fortieth Hillsdale Fair," HIllsdale, Michigan, 1890 -
- 29 September 1890-03 October 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Advertising Poster for the "Fortieth Hillsdale Fair," HIllsdale, Michigan, 1890
- Iowa License Plate, 1986 - Early state-issued license plates were made of porcelain-coated iron. Later, states stamped tin, steel, or even copper to make plates. During the Second World War several states used fiberboard. Plate colors varied and some states added symbols, mottoes, or other design elements. Today, states use reflective sheeting to coat a standard-sized aluminum blank which is then stamped and decorated.
- 1986
- Collections - Artifact
Iowa License Plate, 1986
Early state-issued license plates were made of porcelain-coated iron. Later, states stamped tin, steel, or even copper to make plates. During the Second World War several states used fiberboard. Plate colors varied and some states added symbols, mottoes, or other design elements. Today, states use reflective sheeting to coat a standard-sized aluminum blank which is then stamped and decorated.
- Handbill and Timetable for Wabash Railway's "Midnight Limited," Leaving from Delmar Avenue Station, St. Louis, Missouri, 1929 - The Wabash Railway, with origins dating back to 1838, was a strong Midwestern carrier until Amtrak took over the national passenger railroad system in 1971. In 1928, the Wabash Railway erected the Delmar Avenue Station, providing west-end and suburban St. Louis residents -- particularly businessmen -- convenient access to their railroad system without having to go all the way downtown.
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Handbill and Timetable for Wabash Railway's "Midnight Limited," Leaving from Delmar Avenue Station, St. Louis, Missouri, 1929
The Wabash Railway, with origins dating back to 1838, was a strong Midwestern carrier until Amtrak took over the national passenger railroad system in 1971. In 1928, the Wabash Railway erected the Delmar Avenue Station, providing west-end and suburban St. Louis residents -- particularly businessmen -- convenient access to their railroad system without having to go all the way downtown.
- "Amerikanischen Postwagen" (American Stage Coach, 1800-1810), Lithograph, circa 1815 - Stage wagons were light and open, though not as comfortable as later Concord stagecoaches. They could go about five miles per hour, barring bad weather or road obstructions. The gaily painted signboards of roadside taverns beckoned weary travelers, promising rest, meals, and a chance to catch up on news. Stage wagon drivers used the stop to care for their horses.
- 1800-1810
- Collections - Artifact
"Amerikanischen Postwagen" (American Stage Coach, 1800-1810), Lithograph, circa 1815
Stage wagons were light and open, though not as comfortable as later Concord stagecoaches. They could go about five miles per hour, barring bad weather or road obstructions. The gaily painted signboards of roadside taverns beckoned weary travelers, promising rest, meals, and a chance to catch up on news. Stage wagon drivers used the stop to care for their horses.
- Gilkie Tent Trailer, circa 1927 - Campers who wanted to get close to nature -- but not too close -- loved fold-out tent trailers. These two-wheelers folded down for easy towing by day and then mushroomed into miniature homes at night. Story has it that Warren and Ray Gilkison designed and built their first tent trailer in their father's machine shop for a family camping trip.
- circa 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Gilkie Tent Trailer, circa 1927
Campers who wanted to get close to nature -- but not too close -- loved fold-out tent trailers. These two-wheelers folded down for easy towing by day and then mushroomed into miniature homes at night. Story has it that Warren and Ray Gilkison designed and built their first tent trailer in their father's machine shop for a family camping trip.
- Advertising Postcard for Pan American Airlines, circa 1970, "The Plane with All the Room in the World" - For much of the 20th century, Pan American World Airways exemplified innovation in air travel. The carrier pioneered the use of wide-body jumbo jets, like the Boeing 747 featured on this postcard, in the 1970s. But rising fuel costs and difficulty establishing domestic U.S. routes strained the company in the 1980s. Pan Am ended operations in 1991.
- circa 1970
- Collections - Artifact
Advertising Postcard for Pan American Airlines, circa 1970, "The Plane with All the Room in the World"
For much of the 20th century, Pan American World Airways exemplified innovation in air travel. The carrier pioneered the use of wide-body jumbo jets, like the Boeing 747 featured on this postcard, in the 1970s. But rising fuel costs and difficulty establishing domestic U.S. routes strained the company in the 1980s. Pan Am ended operations in 1991.
- "In Nature's Laboratory : Commemorating Our Vacation Trip of 1916, August 28th to September 9th" - The Vagabonds -- Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs -- enjoyed their annual camping trips taken from 1916 to 1924. Burroughs chronicled the group's 1916 journey in the elaborate scrapbook <em>In Nature's Laboratory</em>. Burroughs, Edison, and Firestone traveled through the Adirondack Mountains and Vermont. Ford couldn't make the trip that year.
- 28 August 1916-09 September 1916
- Collections - Artifact
"In Nature's Laboratory : Commemorating Our Vacation Trip of 1916, August 28th to September 9th"
The Vagabonds -- Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs -- enjoyed their annual camping trips taken from 1916 to 1924. Burroughs chronicled the group's 1916 journey in the elaborate scrapbook In Nature's Laboratory. Burroughs, Edison, and Firestone traveled through the Adirondack Mountains and Vermont. Ford couldn't make the trip that year.
- "Dixie Highway, U.S. 25," circa 1950 - This brochure from about 1950 uses the more familiar trail name for Route 25 from Michigan to Florida -- the Dixie Highway.
- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
"Dixie Highway, U.S. 25," circa 1950
This brochure from about 1950 uses the more familiar trail name for Route 25 from Michigan to Florida -- the Dixie Highway.
- Dining Car, Pennsylvania Limited, Pennsylvania Railroad, circa 1900 - Railroads took pride in their dining cars. They were expensive to operate, but quality food and service helped a railroad distinguish itself from competitors. For African Americans, working on a railroad dining car was one of the few avenues available to enter the Black middle class in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Dining Car, Pennsylvania Limited, Pennsylvania Railroad, circa 1900
Railroads took pride in their dining cars. They were expensive to operate, but quality food and service helped a railroad distinguish itself from competitors. For African Americans, working on a railroad dining car was one of the few avenues available to enter the Black middle class in the 19th and early 20th centuries.