The Harley-Davison Museum has started a new exhibit “The American Road” which looks at how the road trip became an American ritual. It started in the 1930’s when leisure travel and the open road offered an escape for a small but growing number of affluent Americans. After WWII, in the 50’s and 60’s the road became the template for family vacation. It’s when motels and diners with large signs and gimmicks began appearing on the side of the road. “The American Road is something everyone can relate to,” said Harley-Davidson Museum Manager of Exhibits and Curatorial Kristen Jones.
The Golden Age of the road trip ended with the gas crisis of the early ‘70s, but the ritual remains a fundamental American experience, evidenced by its place in pop culture as well as the curiosity it sparks globally as motorists and motorcyclists retrace historic routes. The exhibit also looks into the modern era of road trips. “We have three motorcycles on display from a trip that was taken last year, these guys sought out the old Lincoln Highway. The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental route that you could actually take on a continuous road” said Jones. “The American Road” just opened last weekend at the Harley-Davidson Museum an runs through September 1st.
I visited the HD museum 1 month ago. The place and exhibits are much better than what I expected.
People travel from all over the world to ride those roads
RE:
“…. The American Road…”
There are many.
Pick one and make it yours.
https://motohobos.wordpress.com/page/11/
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Oh, But the quest for “The Road” isn’t new.
It goes back to the Depression.
For those who think they’re tough,
size yourselves up against this:
http://www.a-1associates.com/aa/LINKS/Lois%20diary.htm#sthash.K6CushSn.dpuf
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Great exhibit!!!
This should be an excellent exhibit to see at the already fine HD Museum. But I’d say Lincoln Highway is the second planned continuous transcontinental highway. US Route 40 also known as the National Road eventually ran east to west and was chartered in 1806 by Congress. It was designed as a freight hauling road, like our interstates seem to have become, and the intended traffic was Conestoga wagons, the 18 wheelers of the 19th Century. Over time its surface was upgraded to asphalt and concrete. In the east, all the way through Ohio it parallels Interstate 70. In some places you can check out great stone bridges and toll houses that remain from its origin, well ahead of the Lincoln Highway. Cannonball Baker rode parts of it in 1914 on his transcontinental record run.
I’ve rode the Lincoln Highway, a stretch of it still runs just south Three Oaks MI to Laporte IN, beautiful area. Had no idea it ran the continent at one point.
Saw that yesterday on Modern Marvels. I think it was called, Paving America. It was an interesting program though, esp the part about the Lincoln Highway.