Thomas macdonald and a supporting cast in the federal bureau of public roads, who turned that network into the numbered u. The bill created a 41,000mile national system of interstate and the federalaid highway act of 1956 was signed into law by president dwight eisenhower on june 29, 1956. Before the invention of automobiles, most freight was moved by train or horsedrawn vehicle. 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. Highways including all additional routes at urban areas known as the yellow book. The federalaid highway act of 1956 created the interstate highway system, which touched virtually every aspect of american life in the past 50. Author tom lewis explains that it took 40 years not as specified by the legislation president eisenhower signed in 1956 to build the interstate highway system. The epic road trip that inspired the interstate highway system get the story behind dwight eisenhowers grueling, 62day crosscountry road trip that inspired the creation of the interstate. Historic context of the interstate highway system in georgia. The book was an excellent treatise on the political side of building the interstate highway system, and i enjoyed the look at parts of the tale i hadnt heard before. The interstate highway system is a system of freeways in the united states. This page has links to city scans from the yellow book, which was a book from 1955 detailing the thenproposed interstate highway system. 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 other things that got in the way.
The united states numbered highway system often called u. On june 29, 1956, president dwight eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956. The interstate highway system was launched when president dwight d. Interstate highway system came to pass it was mud, iowa spring mud, regarded by locals with the same respect and dread one might accord some uncontrollable primeval force. The act chartered a national system of interstate highways and expanded the network to 40,000 miles. Highways is an integrated network of roads and highways numbered within a nationwide grid in the contiguous united states. The greatest decade 19561966 interstate system highway history. Its purpose was to provide highspeed, highcapacity system of highways without stoplights and with exits spaced, whenever possible, at least a mile apart. The interstate highway system is an enduring marvel of conception, design, and construction. 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. The eisenhower interstate highway system history of the interstate road and transportation infrastructure, impact on american culture, ways to reduce congestion. The north texas cultural spirit to think big and build big has guided the ongoing growth and expansion of dallasfort worth freeways, a transportation system which has propelled north texas to be among the most economically successful regions in the united states in the postworld war ii era.
The information presented here will help you locate rest areas across the united states. Charles erwin wilson, who was still head of general motors when president eisenhower selected him as secretary of defense in january 1953, assisted in the planning. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways federal highway administration. The national network of freeways and toll roads includes a number of transcontinental routes, many urban expressways, officially. Theres carl fisher, who inspired the nations first primitive network of motor roads.
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. History of the interstate highway system in indiana book. The racist legacy of americas innercity highways d. The original interstate highway plan photo from wikicommons by the end of the 19th century. History of the trucking industry in the united states. Interstate rest areas rest areas along interstate highways.
In 1991, the interstate, according to lewis the largest engineered structure in the world, was named the dwight d. Brought to you by aaroads, included on this site are guides for every interstate highway within the eisenhower interstate system. Our e books put knowledge at your fingertips, and an expert in your pocket. National interstate and defense highways act 1956 our documents. The highway was designated in 1956 as one of the original routes of the interstate highway system. Congress passed further legislation in the form of the federalaid highway act of 1944. Pennypacker signed into the law the creation of the department, which was one of the first in the country. Three ways the interstate system changed america the idea of a national highway system stretches back to the 1930s but wasnt put into place until the midcentury traffic on interstate. Mcdonald, who became chief of the bureau of public roads bpr in 1919, appreciated the need for a connected system of interstate highways, but he did not believe that a separate national system under a federal commission was the way to achieve it, according to a history of americas highways, a history of the federalaid program.
Interstate highway system simple english wikipedia, the. The department of highways, the forerunner to penndot, was created by an act that was passed on may 31, 1903. But when the plan was passed in the 1950s, it was promoted as a military contingency program in case of nuclear war. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways, commonly. Interstate system, youre sure to find interesting tidbits and factoids that will keep you turning the pages. Construction of the system was authorized by the federal aid highway act of 1956. We had an interstate highway system already approved, already on, you know, on the books. Eisenhower interstate highway system federal highway administration. The us federal interstate highway system has been called the greatest public works project in history. The only thing it lacked was money, and, in fact, it had already received a.
The eisenhower interstate highway system history of the interstate road and transportation. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways, proceeded rapidly throughout the country, and by the early 1990s, nearly. It was mud, iowa spring mud, regarded by locals with the same respect and dread one might accord some uncontrollable primeval force, that inspired the building of our national highway system. The greatest public works project in history produced the greatest decade in the history of highways. The interstate system has been called the greatest public works project in history. Interstate 80 i80 is an eastwest transcontinental freeway in the united states that runs from downtown san francisco, california, to teaneck, new jersey, in the new york city metropolitan area. The federal aid highway act of 1956 was used to pay for construction. The federalaid highway act of 1956 was signed into law by president dwight eisenhower on june 29, 1956. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you at todays hearing on celebrating the 50 th anniversary of the dwight d. Interstate highway system quotables 50th anniversary. Interstate system, the book covers the evolution of american roads from authorization of the national road in 1806 through bostons big dig. However, these routes are not required to meet the same standards as the. 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. Home resources highway history interstate system 50th anniversary links to the eisenhower interstate system links to the eisenhower interstate system no list can cover all related web sites, but the web sites listed here contain links to many other web sites that should give readers a.
The author captures the personalities and dedication of a group of civil servants determined to make the project a reality, and gives a reasonably comprehensive overview of the planning process. The epic road trip that inspired the interstate highway system. Even 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0 route numbers are given to eastwest routes, with the smaller numbered routes in the south i10 and bigger numbered routes in the north i90. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. However, even more money was needed for the system that eisenhower envisioned, and he continued to press for funds. The trucking industry in the united states has affected the political and economic history of the united states in the 20th century. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. A bunch of sidebar stories helped to break things up a bit and keep it interesting for nonhighway geeks. The year 2006 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the u. This act authorized the building of highways throughout the nation, which would be the biggest public works project in the nations history. Eisenhower didnt want the highways to extend into the cities, but once he signed the federal legislation, the highway engineers took over. 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 maintained by. Celebrating the 50 th anniversary of the eisenhower interstate system.
It was mostly built from the 1950s through the 1980s, but more freeways were built later. An act to amend and supplement the federalaid road act. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Eisenhower, whose ww ii experiences taught him the necessity of a superhighway for military transport and evacuation in wartime, todays interstate system is what connects our coasts and our borders, our cities and small towns.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Every citizen has been touched by it, if not directly as motorists, then. The title is a great one, because of its double entendre meaning. The publication in 1955 of the general location of national system of interstate highways, informally known as the yellow book, mapped out what became. Highway system is the longest and largest engineered structure in the history of. Eisenhower signed the federalaid highway act of 1956. 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. Historic context of the interstate highway system in georgia introduction although the story of georgias interstate highways reflects the unique aspects of local history and politics, the effort to build approximately 1,100 miles of interstate highway also mirrors a much wider national context. During world war i, the military was the first to use trucks extensively. The eisenhower freeway system is treated in this book, written admittedly for young adults. Primary interstate highways are the major interstate highways of the united states and have a one or twodigit route number. Eisenhower national system of interstate and defense highways, commonly known as the interstate highway system, is a network of controlledaccess highways that forms part of the national highway system in the united states.
Although described as the incredible story of the u. Eisenhowers 1919 road trip and the interstate highway system. The undertaking became the largest public works program in american history, and its creation showcased the cando american spirit of ambition, intelligence, and knowhow. Bibliography, 50th anniversary interstate highway system. In addition to the 48 contiguous states, interstate highways are found in hawaii, alaska, and puerto rico. The yellow book officially known as the general location of national system of interstate highways, mapped out what became the interstate system. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the eisenhower interstate system. Soon state highway agencies and the department of defense planned nationwide routes. The building of the ihs, formally known as the dwight d. Eisenhower system of interstate and defense highways. Divided highways is the best and most important book yet published about. The history and culture of roads in the united states. 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. The bill was lobbied for heavily by a coalition of vehicle, oil, tire, cement, steel, and union interests and ironically, given its carbon footprint.
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