The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: January seventh, unfolding the history of highway maps.

Few developments had more impact on the last century than the automobile. The roads built to support vehicular travel profoundly changed and are still altering the American landscape from sea to shining sea. Highway maps are the record of that evolution.

By 1900, the United States had developed extensive networks on rail and river, but a relatively poor system of roads. Bicyclists were first to lobby for the development of better land routes between cities, but the growing population of automobile owners certainly added clout to the case. Since early routes had neither name nor number, motorists traveled with Automobile Blue Books that described every bend and bump in the road. As named routes, like the Lincoln Highway and Old Spanish Trail, were marked with color-coded poles, maps were drawn to provide club members with detailed directions.

In the 1920's, officially designated state routes began to emerge into a rudimentary highway system, and publishers like Rand McNally began printing motorist maps. The oil companies quickly realized colorful road maps were great promotional items and began distributing them for free. By the time Exxon issued the last free map in the mid-80's, more than 5 billion had been given away. In addition to detailing the growth of a nation, their elaborate cover art captures 50 years of American culture. Too bad no one figured a better way to fold a five square foot piece of paper back down into glove compartment size.

FMI For highway information on the information highway, check the Web site of the Road Map Collectors of America, www.roadmaps.org.

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