Established in 1926
Before a coordinated numbering system, motorists often navigated long-distance roads by following named trails and their distinctive markers. The U.S. numbered highway system, approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials in November 1926, offered a more consistent way to identify routes.
These route numbers organized travel across a network of roads rather than creating a single new roadway. Their familiar shields became part of town streets and rural intersections alike. The system helps explain why a highway can be both a long-distance connection and a community's main commercial street.
What to look for
- Numbers used across state boundaries
- A recognizable shield-shaped marker
- Routes passing through established communities
Sources and further reading
Explore more
- Back to Highways
- Route 66
- The Interstate System
- The Lincoln Highway
- Highway Shields — related topic