U.S. Numbered Highways
Established in 1926
A national numbering system brought order to an expanding network of intercity roads.
Explore highways
Follow the road systems and named routes that connected communities and shaped automobile travel.
Choose one of the four subjects below for its history, distinguishing features, and further reading.
Route 66
1926–1985
The Chicago-to-Los Angeles corridor became an enduring symbol of the American road trip.
The Interstate System
The 1956 program
A federally supported network reorganized long-distance travel and urban access.
The Lincoln Highway
Organized in 1913
An early named coast-to-coast route promoted better roads and automobile travel.
Marker reference collections
Compare route-marker designs in the existing image collections.