Click on the menu options on the left to start navigating through all of our pictures. Soon state highway agencies and the department of defense planned nationwide routes. The federalaid highway act of 1956 was signed into law by president dwight eisenhower on june 29, 1956. This postwar and preinterstate era provided ample room for a small contractor with limited resources to prosper. In divided highways, tom lewis tells the monumental story of the largest engineered structure ever built. Standard highway signs and markings the 2009 mutcd sign layouts are now available.
Us state highway route marker shields brilliant maps. Divided highways by tom lewis is a 354page book that focuses on one particular aspect of american history, namely, the beneficial but sometimes divisive aspects of the federal highway system. Basin and range 1980, in suspect terrain 1982, rising from the plains 1986, and assembling california 1986. Bibliography, 50th anniversary interstate highway system. What is the story behind the eisenhower interstate system signsand. Gore, the secretary of agriculture, for the purposes of establishing a nationwide highway system. Jun 29, 2017 the map above shows the different highway route marker shield designs used by each us state for their own state highways. Interstate highway system its history and i10 today. Routes and interstates to state and county roads each with different signage and numbering systems highways in the united states. Route shield was developed during the first meeting of the joint board on interstate highways, a panel appointed by howard m. Excellent scholarly history of the origins of the interstate system, with a chapter on its construction. The lincoln highway was the first push toward an interstate highway. Then and now by john murphy because i work with a lot of newly arrived asian indians, and find myself explaining to them the usa and our culture. What does californias state highway shield symbolize.
Before the interstate highway system brought fast, limited access highways to. From the early years, highway engineers across the country built interstate highways to match geographic and other challenges. Interstate system highway history bibliography general. History of the interstate highway system 50th anniversary. The subject of divided highways is broader than the subtitle implies, as it also sses federal aid for road building before eisenhowers initiation of the interstate highway program. Highway shields for interstate 80, business loop interstate 80, and the. When did president eisenhower sign the highway revenue act of 1956. About 2,900 miles 4,700 km of toll roads are included in the interstate highway system. In divided highways, tom lewis tells the monumental story of the. In 1919, after 15 years of building roads in his home state, he was lured to washington, d. Most of the links in the interstate highway system of the united states were built in the 1960s and 1970s. The height of the shield is shown as a dimension of 15 ft, and the width is shown as a dimension of 6 ft. Vtg interstate 127 highway freeway road oil garage shop. Essential to understanding how the interstate system came about.
The greatest decade 19561966 interstate system highway history. The three styles of highway shield symbols with the correct route numbers draw on the map. Here is one of the great untold tales of american enterprise, recounted entirely through the stories of the human beings who thought up, mapped out, poured, paved and tried to stop the interstates. History of the automobile and national highway system. Road design and construction were challenged to keep pace with the rapidly advancing capabilities and numbers of cars. As real mobility sank into the popular consciousness, the american way of life changed forever. After a long period in the nineteenth century in which the federal government did nothing to. While interstate and us numbered highways use standard designs across. Both routings never came to fruition due to 1956 interstate highway act, but the sw to ne route followed a route similar to one on the 1946 map and that of present day i71, 271, and 90.
While interstate and us numbered highways use standard designs across the country, but the same can not be said of state highway markers. History of the us highway system from dirt paths to superhighways. The federal highway administration has developed the design details of the new signs added in the 2009 edition of the mutcd and signs whose designs have been modified in the 2009 mutcd. Pennsylvanias design is a keystone, after the states. The interstate system has been called the greatest public works project in history. The interstates role in promoting economic development, strengthening the nations defense, and facilitating vehicular travel is well known, but its impact on engineering and technology is not widely. Federalaid highway act of 1938 this was the first attempt to create a national highway system in the united states and resulted in 26,700 miles of road.
The preliminary design was first proposed april 20, 1925, the same day the joint board on interstate highways decided that a numbering system would be preferable to names. The federal highway administration funds four routes in alaska and three routes in puerto rico under the same program as the rest of the interstate highway system. This publicationknown as the yellow book because of the color of its. Route shield news newspapers books scholar jstor june 2010 learn how and when to remove this template. Begin interstate 40 shield assembly posted ahead of the lane drop for u. This page has links to city scans from the yellow book, which was a book from 1955 detailing the thenproposed interstate highway system. Congress passed further legislation in the form of the federalaid highway act of 1944. The mutcd also provides default designs for state highways the circular highway shield and county highways a blue pentagon with yellow text. By 1957, aasho had decided to assign a new grid to the new routes, to be numbered in the opposite directions as the u. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways, commonly.
The history of the interstate highway system timeline. I96 interstate highway freeway shield badge road sign street michigan l california interstate 10 freeway sign 24 wide shield shape aluminum ref i75 interstate reflective highway freeway shield road sign street michi. Route shield is the highway marker used for united states numbered highways. Preparation the federal aid road act of 1916 attempted continue reading explore the history of americas interstates. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways, commonly called the interstate highway system or simply the interstate, is a network of limitedaccess highways. Assisting in the planning was charles erwin wilson, who was still head of general motors when president eisenhower selected him as secretary of defense in january 1953. Eisenhower system of interstate and defense highways one of the seven great construction wonders of america. Figure 3b25 long description mutcd 2009 edition fhwa.
A supplemental aasho publication outlining signage and pavement markings on the nascent interstate highway system, also published in 1961, included a variant of the shield intended for freeway use such as for u. The interstate highway system was only in the planning stages about a hundred years ago, and it took decades for it to resemble the roadway system we use today. Building the interstate highways, transforming american life, updated edition, cornell university press, 20. The current design of californias state highway shield dates to 1964. Eisenhower after he saw the benefits of the autobahn during wartime in germany. However, these routes are not required to meet the same standards as the mainland routes. The idea for interstate highways came from dwight d. The interstate shield is the only trademarked highway marker in use in the united states, and the u. The title is a great one, because of its double entendre meaning. Other wonders include the golden gate bridge and hoover dam. Standard highway signs and markings book fhwa mutcd.
Before the interstate highway system brought fast, limited access highways to the united states, there was, and still remains, another nationwide system of highways that enabled travelers to follow standardized routes to any part of the nation. Eisenhower and the birth of the interstate highway. It is shown as a red and blue interstate route shield with a white numeral 83 on the shield against a medium gray background. The mutcd also provides default designs for state highways the circular highway shield and county highways a. The freeway travels along a mostly rural route north 111 miles to future i42 west of clayton and to the south of the raleigh metropolitan area. The government began the planning process for a system of interstate highways which would bypass the small towns and create a faster way to travel from point to point. Keep reading and explore the history of americas interstates. I guess you can call the map on the left, interstate plan version 2. Quite simply, the interstate highway system is the longest and largest engineered structure in the history of the world, and it has enormously influenced every aspect of american life. Highways is an integrated network of roads and highways numbered within a nationwide grid in the contiguous united states. History of the interstate highway system maps, resources. Besides the main interstate system connecting the metropolitan areas of the country, the yellow book also included maps of the proposed urban interstates within many of those metropolitan areas.
The interstate system succeeded in achieving presidents eisenhowers vision of connecting our nation. History and cultural impact of the interstate highway system the interstate highway system, the seeds of which were planted in 1944, blossomed in 1956 with the passage of the federal highway act. The publication in 1955 of the general location of national system of interstate highways, informally known as the yellow book, mapped out what became the interstate highway system. Enter a number and state name to customize the interstate shield. Your source for historically accurate highway markers. The federalaid highway act of 1938 was the first serious attempt to develop a national roadway system. In addition to the 48 contiguous states, interstate highways are found in hawaii, alaska, and puerto rico. Get the best deals on highway sign when you shop the largest online selection at. Click apply and ok to close the layer properties dialog box. Routes highway history bibliography general highway. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. A companion to a pbs documentary tracing the burma road, the pan american highway, the silk road, and other roads around the world. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
At the urging of the automobile makers and with the support of president eisenhower, the interstate highway system was created through the federal highway aid act of 1956. The highway was the predecessor of and the model for the later system of numbered highways. While federal legislation initially banned the collection of tolls on interstates, many of the toll roads on the system were either completed or under construction when the interstate highway system was established. The legislation directed the bureau of public roads to study the feasibility of a tollfinanced system of three eastwest and three northsouth superhighways.
The bill created a 41,000mile national system of interstate and defense highways that would, according to eisenhower, eliminate unsafe roads, inefficient routes, traffic jams and all of the. The design of the interstate system has not been static. As the designation and numbering of these highways were coordinated among the states, they are sometimes called federal highways, but the roadways were built and have always been. The red, white, and blue interstate shield was unveiled at the same time. The history of the interstate highway system timeline created by kfil. The unfinished history of the last great american highway. Divided highways is the best and most important book yet published about how. History of the interstate highway system futuristic elevated highway as imagined in interregional highways. Eisenhower had signed the federalaid highway act of 1956. In february of 1994, the american society of civil engineers asce called the dwight d. Example a shows an interstate shield on dark or light pavement.
Explore the history of americas interstates hds truck. The bill created a 41,000mile system of interstate highways that eisenhower promised would. Transportation history 1794, first toll road, the lancaster turnpike, pa 1807, fulton tested a steam boat on hudson river 1869, first transcontinental railroad 1903, first flight of wright brothers 1956, interstate highway system began 1969, men landed on the moon and returned. In modern history, france was the first western nation. Interstate highway system ihs is 46,876 miles in length 2006 the dwight d. The federal aid highway act of 1956 appropriated funding for the interstate highway system, to construct a vast network of freeways across the country. Interstate 95 i95 is a part of the interstate highway system that runs from miami, florida, to the canadaunited states border near houlton, maine. Here is an alphabetical list of books about highways, roads, and roadside features, both historic and modern, compiled by a librarian, that are currently available. In modern history, france was the first western nation to begin building a system of national highways 1716. There are now over 42,000 miles of interstate highways in the united states. They are federally maintained and adhere to the standards of any other signed interstate highway, but are officially part of the eisenhower interstate system only on paper. The convoys purpose was to roadtest various army vehicles and. This spectacularly illustrated history traces the transformation of americas roads from rutted wagon trails into safe highways. Quite simply, the interstate highway system is the longest and largest engineered structure in the history of the world, and it has enormously influenced every aspect of.
This shield, the same size as the oversize marker, was a simplified cutout shield. Following enactment of the federalaid highway act of 1956, the american association of state highway. Eisenhower, were demanding a federal sponsorship for a system of divided highways, and on june 26, 1956, the federalaid highway act was passed by congress for a national interstate highway program. In 1957 the interstate shield designed by texas highway department employee richard oliver was introduced, the winner of a contest that included 100 entries. Eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956, the interstate system has been a part of our culture as construction projects, as transportation in our daily lives, and as an integral part of the american way of life every citizen has been touched by it, if not directly. This updated edition of the 1997 book includes a chapter called buried desires that focuses on the central arterytunnel project in boston the big dig and the changing attitudes about highways in the. The act chartered a national system of interstate highways and expanded the network to 40,000 miles. Over 0 and counting, from all 50 states and around the world. The purpose of numbering and signing highway systems is to identify routes and facilitate travel. The last section of interstate 95 opened in georgia was the turtle river bridge near brunswick on december 20, 1977.
Route shield was inspired by the great seal of the united states. In this photograph, taken from the cover of the marapr 1964 edition of california highways and public works published by the forerunner to caltrans, two workers resign u. When the interstate highway act was passed, most americans thought it was. Anniversary of the highway system recalls eisenhowers role as catalyst summer 2006, vol.
In the mid1950s the public lobby, along with president dwight d. It was a major turning point in highway history as it was the first continuous transcontinental highway. The convoys purpose was to roadtest various army vehicles and to see how. Pennsylvanias shield references the states nickname the keystone state while washingtons features the silhouette of americas first president. Divided highways is the best and most important book yet published about how asphalt and concrete have changed the united states. Before the interstate highway system brought fast, limited access highways to the. During the meeting, held at the bureau of public roads offices in washington, d. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. Numbered highways have used the same basic shield since before the numbering scheme was agreed upon. Numbered highways have used the same basic shield since before. The majority of students in our introductory and advanced geography courses today cannot remember life before the interstate. Over time, the design of the interstate shield has changed. This postwar and pre interstate era provided ample room for a small contractor with limited resources to prosper.
A collection of articles describes roads around the world, from the appian way to highway 1 in california. Pfeiffer in the summer of 1919, just months after the end of world war i, an expedition of 81 army vehiclesa truck convoyset out from washington, d. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The united states numbered highway system often called u.
An interstate highway is any highway built under the auspices of the federal aid highway act of 1956 and funded by the federal government. The bill was lobbied for heavily by a coalition of vehicle, oil, tire, cement, steel, and union interests and ironically, given its carbon footprint. The map above shows the different highway route marker shield designs used by each us state for their own state highways. Ike wanted a fast and easy way for military weapons and troops to be transported across the country based off the german autobahn.
Eisenhower signed legislation funding the construction of the u. This page was last edited on 2 september 2019, at 03. Interstate frequently asked questions highway history. Interstate highway system ihssomething americans had dreamed of since detroit starting. From the george washington bridge, which carries i95 across the hudson river. Click on the image or title for additional information and availability purchases are provided by. To learn more about the us highway system have a look at the following books. To save the symbology for use in new map documents, rightclick the layer name and select save as layer. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways, commonly called the interstate highway system or simply the interstate, is a network of limitedaccess highways also called freeways or expressways in the united states. Spectacular journeys across some of the worlds most breathtaking scenery, rand mcnally, 1995. Jul 10, 2019 anniversary of the highway system recalls eisenhowers role as catalyst summer 2006, vol.