Ribbons Across the Land

Building the U.S. Interstate Highway System

The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways: Status of Improvement as of March 31, 1971. Washington: GPO, 1971. View Source.

INTRODUCTION

About this Exhibition

This exhibition explores the history of early transportation systems in the U.S. and Europe:

Canals and rivers; railroads; the Goods Roads Movement; Italy’s autostrade and especially Germany’s Autobahn, a highway project that inspired President Eisenhower to push for a U.S. Interstate Highway System.