Historic Highways and Roads

Images of various historic roads and highways across different states, showcasing their landscapes and infrastructure in mid-20th century black and white.

U.S. Route 29. Original caption: View of new section of US 29, between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. Old road on left. Recent balding operations have obscured pavement edge. Photo by T. W. Kines, May 1953. State: Maryland. Place: U S 29.

Views of Revell Highway (Rt. 50). Original caption: Approaches from the Ritchie Highway to U S 50 (Revell Highway) leading to the Chesapeake Bay Ferry. Photos by C. H. Ritter, March 1952. State: Maryland. Place: Revell Highway.

Santa Ana Freeway. Original caption: Santa Ana Freeway, looking south from Olympic Boulevard. Photo by T. W. Kines, Nov. 10, 1953. State: California. Place: Los Angeles.

Hawaii Project SDR 3(1), Station 4-00. Original caption: Hawaii Project SDR 3(1), March 30, 1950. Looking toward Hilo from beginning of project, Station - (4-00). Note FA marker on left, old highway (Mamaloha Highway) on right. State: Hawaii.

Hawaii Project WDR 4(1), Waialua Beach Road. Original caption: Hawaii Project WDR 4(1), Waialua Beach Road, July 29, 1949. Completed A. C. pavement near intersection with Kamehameha Highway, Station 52-80, northerly end of this portion. State: Hawaii.

California Project FLH 10(4). Original caption: California Project FLH 10(4), September 1949. South approach. Finished road. State: California.

Details of roadway, curb and rail, Virginia Route 642 under Shirley Memorial Highway at Lorton. Original caption: Details of roadway, curb and rail. Virginia Route 642 under Shirley Memorial Highway at Lorton. By C. H. Ritter, April 28, 1950. State: Virginia. Place: Shirley Memorial Highway.

Truckers Terminal on U.S. 1 Two Miles South of South Hill, Virginia. Original caption: Photo by T. W. Kines, January, 1952. State: Virginia.

New Jersey Turnpike at Elizabeth. Original caption: New Jersey Turnpike at Elizabeth, New Jersey. Photo by T. W. Kines, March 1952. State: New Jersey. Place: New Jersey Turnpike.

U.S. Route 29. Original caption: View of new section of US 29, between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. Old road on left. Recent balding operations have obscured pavement edge. Photo by T. W. Kines, May 1953. State: Maryland. Place: U S 29.

Left-turn storage lane on New Jersey 25 approaching Newark, New Jersey. Original caption: Photo by T. W. Kines. State: New Jersey. Place: Newark.

Dirt Road with Steep Slopes and Deep V-Ditches. Original caption: A typical existing dirt road on St. Thomas Island with steep earth slopes and deep V-ditches. The washing of bare slopes and filling up of ditches and drains puts a heavy burden on maintenance. For close-up view see 45-2571. The new construction and reconstruction program should aim to eliminate this expensive type of maintenance from the Island's budget on those road sections of the system provided for. Photo by W. H. Simonson. State: Virgin Islands. Place: St. Thomas.

U.S. Route 40 just south of Middletown, Maryland: two-lane highway with added climbing lane in foreground. Original caption: U.S. Route 40 just south of Middletown, Maryland: a modern two-lane highway with added climbing lane in foreground. Photo by Kines and Ritter. June 1953. State: Maryland. Place: Middletown.

Grade Separation Over Mississippi Route 16 at Ofahoma, Mississippi - Natchez Trace Parkway. Original caption: Grade separation over Mississippi Route 16 at Ofahoma, Mississippi - Natchez Trace Parkway. Photo by T. W. Kines , April 1951. State: Mississippi.

Photograph Taken During Filming of "Travelers Toll". Original caption: Taken during filming of "Wheels of Progress" - "Travelers Toll." J. K. Hillers - 1927. State: Maryland Place: Meadows.

View of the New Jersey Turnpike Between Swedesboro and Woodbury. Original caption: View of the New Jersey Turnpike Between Swedesboro and Woodbury, NJ. Photo by T. W. Kines, March 1952. State: New Jersey. Place: New Jersey Turnpike.

Construction of Interchange. Original caption: Construction of interchange at Glebe Road and Arlington Blvd. Photographed by T. W. Kines. State: Virginia. Place: Arlington.

Approach to Memphis -Arkansas Bridge. Original caption: Approaches to Memphis -Arkansas Bridge looking east from Arkansas side. Photo by T. W. Kines, August, 1951. State: Arkansas. Place: Memphis-Arkansas Bridge.

Cross section and condition of surface on Techo road, Department auto checking station just east of Cucuta, Colombia. Original caption: 39-3835 - Showing cross section and condition of surface on Techo road at time of undertaking new condition. Original caption: 39-3836 - Report of Highway Activities in Colombia South America - 1939. Taken by Worth D. Ross. Department auto checking station just east of Cucuta, Colombia, on main highway to Venezuela at which all cars are required to stop. Small rectangular sign at left of car gives information regarding stopping. All other signs are advertisements. State: Colombia.

Along the Governor Ritchie Highway connecting Baltimore with Annapolis. Original caption: Along the Governor Ritchie Highway connecting Baltimore with Annapolis. Photo by J. K. Hillers. August 27, 1941. State: Maryland.

Road in Florida. Original caption: Lime rock aggregate surface on US 401, 14 miles south of Ocala, Florida. Photo by T. W. Kines, January 1952. State: Florida.

Gasoline Station Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Original caption: Gasoline station and intersection of US 321A and 221, Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Photo by T. W. Kines, August 9, 1950. State: North Carolina. Place: Blowing Rock.

Motel with Gasoline Filling Station and Restaurant. Original caption: Motel with gasoline filling station and restaurant, at the junction of US 301 and US 1, Georgia. Photo by T. W. Kines. State: Georgia.

Bituminous Asphalt Mix on Newburyport Turnpike. Original caption: Bituminous asphalt mix - spreading chips and rolling on Newburyport Turnpike near Newburyport, Massachusetts. Photo by T. W. Kines, June 1952. State: Massachusetts.

U.S. Route 40. Original caption: Looking east along US 40 from Martin Boulevard (Route 700) grade separation structure. Photo by T. W. Kines, May 1953. State: Maryland. Place: U S 40.

Eastern Approach to Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Original caption: Photo by T. W. Kines, April 1952. State: Maryland. Place: Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Virginia Route 716 (Seminary Road) overpassing Shirley Memorial Highway. Original caption: Virginia Route 716 (Seminary Road) overpassing Shirley Memorial Highway. General view looking northeast. Photo by C. H. Ritter, April 28, 1950. State: Virginia. Place: Shirley Memorial Highway.

U.S. Route 61, two miles west of Red Wing, Minnesota. Original caption: US Route 61, two miles west of Red Wing, Minnesota. Photo by T. W. Kines, August 1951. State: Minnesota.

U.S. Route 40, divided highway, just east of Ridgeville, Maryland. Original caption: U.S. Route 40 just east of Ridgeville, Maryland. Divided highway with wide median, gravel shoulders and paved gutter. Photo by Kines and Ritter. June 1953. State: Maryland. Place: Ridgeville.

Erosion along Shirley Memorial Highway. Original caption: Slope erosion on Shirley Highway obstructing the drainway. Photo by C. H. Ritter, June 1953. State: Virginia.

Washington National Airport Access Roads and Parking. Original caption: Washington National Airport, access roads and parking. Photo by T. W. Kines. State: Virginia. Place: Gravelly Point.

Station 159 Looking Toward Honolulu. Original caption: Taken at 4:15 P. M. from station 159 looking toward Honolulu, showing peak hour traffic on "bottleneck". Evening Honolulu-bound traffic usurps the middle passing lane. During morning peak hours the converse is true. Hawaii Project SN-FAP 9-D (4). State: Hawaii.

Sample of bad edge in concrete paving on road shoulder--a hazard to tires--on U.S. Route 176. Original caption: U.S. Route 176 near junction with U.S. Route 170, bare sandy shoulder. Note bad edge in concrete - a hazard to tires. Photo by George B. Gordon. August 19, 1943. State: Maryland.

Virginia Route 236 (at Lincolnia) overpassing Shirley Memorial Highway. Original caption: Virginia Route 236 (at Lincolnia) overpassing Shirley Memorial Highway. Note details of roady, curb and rail. Photo by C. H. Ritter, April 28, 1950. State: Virginia. Place: Shirley Memorial Highway & Route 236.

View of the Annapolis-Washington Expressway Between Parole and Highway 301. Original caption: General views of the Annapolis-Washington Expressway Between Parole and Highway 301, before opening to traffic. Photos by C. H. Ritter, March 1952. State: Maryland. Place: Washington-Annapolis Expressway.

Whitehurst Freeway, looking west along K Street from 25th Street. State: DC. Place: Washington.

Views from North Aptos Railroad Underpass. Original caption: Looking east from North Aptos railroad underpass showing Aptos Creek Bridge and South Approach Underpass. 481 Californai U 400(9). March 24, 1950. State: California.

Old Tamiami Trail Through the Everglades Known As United States Highway #94, Which Connects with U.S. Route 41 at Naples, Florida. Original caption: Old Tamianmi Trail through the Everglades known as United States Highway #94, which connects with U.S. Route 41 at Naples, Florida. State: Florida.

U.S. 40, or Express Highway, and Hampton Avenue Interchange. Original caption: U.S. 40, or Express Highway, and Hampton Avenue Interchange. Photo by T. W. Kines. April 20, 1951. State: Missouri. Place: Saint Louis.

Good sight distance on U.S. 191. Original caption: Good sight distance on US 191 about four miles south of Downey, Idaho. Photo by T. W. Kines. State: Idaho.

Interchange at State Route 4 and Tennent Freehold Road, New Jersey. State: New Jersey.

State Route 40 (Rockefeller Highway). Original caption: Camden to Lakehurst. Rockefellow Highway (road name) - State Route 40. F.R. 37 - NRH 104-F; looking east from railroad bridge. Marlton, New Jersey. July 2, 1940. State: New Jersey. Place: Camden County.

A Convict-built Road Across Raton Pass, with Monuments Marking State Line Between Trinidad, Colorado and Raton, New Mexico. Original caption: Good road across Raton Pass - A. L. Westgard - 1911. Monuments marking state line between Colorado and New Mexico. (Between Trinidad and Raton). A convict built road across Raton Pass. Needs scraping. Photo by Westgard, March 14, 1911. State: Colorado Place: Raton Pass.

Gasoline Station, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Original caption: Photo by T. W. Kines, August 18, 1950. State: Tennessee. Place: Gatlinburg.

Funston Avenue, San Francisco. Original caption: Funston Avenue - 4-lane without parking. Photo by T. W. Kines, Aug. 17, 1948. State: California. Place: San Francisco.

Section of Reconstructed Highway Between Malolos and Apalit in Bulacan and Pampanga Provinces. Original caption: Section of reconstructed highway between Malolos and Apalit in Bulacan and Pampanga Provinces, Philippine Islands. Total cost $840,944. Project PR 4(1). State: Philippines.

Cut and Slope on U.S. Route 40. Original caption: Cut and slope on U.S. Route 40 near Zanesville, Ohio. Photo by T. W. Kines, April 1951. State: Ohio.

Gasoline Station Tanks at Curb on U.S. 1 in Cottage City, Maryland. Original caption: Photo by T. W. Kines, April 1952. State: Maryland. Place: Cottage City.

Facing west along a three mile tangent just west of the Robertson River; Facing east down an eight mile tangent in the Tanana River Valley. Original caption: 43-3300 - Facing west along a three mile tangent just west of the Robertson River. All phases of the work under the supervision of the Public Roads Administration. Original caption: 43-3301 - Facing east down an eight mile tangent in the Tanana River Valley. All phases of work under the supervision of the Public Roads Administration. State: Alaska.

Cloverleaf Intersection of the Washington-Annapolis Expressway Crossing Highway 301. Original caption: Construction of the cloverleaf intersection of the Washington-Annapolis Expressway crossing Highway 301. Photos by C. H. Ritter, March 1952. State: Maryland. Place: Washington-Annapolis Expressway.

Narrow 2-lane highway with poor shoulders - U.S. 17, 20 miles south of Savannah, Georgia. Original caption: Narrow 2-lane highway with poor shoulders - US 17, 20 miles south of Savannah, Georgia. Photo by T. W. Kines, February 1952. State: Georgia.

Diner Along U.S. 17, Savannah, Georgia. Original caption: Diner along U.S. 17, Savannah, Georgia. Photo by T. W. Kines, February 1952. State: Georgia. Place: Savannah.

Intersection of Washington Boulevard and Fort Myer South Entrance. Original caption: Intersection of Washington Boulevard and Fort Myer South Entrance, about 12:30 P.M. Bus stop at left. Photos by C. H. Ritter, April 28, 1950. State: Virginia.

Arlington County, Virginia - Bus Turnout. Original caption: Arlington County, Va. Bus Turnout (separated) in combination with service to adjacent property - Pentagon Road Network - U. S. 1 at south end of 14th Street Bridge - looking toward bridge. Photo by T. W. Kines. 8-17-45. State: Virginia. Place: Arlington County.

Erosion on State Route 644. Original caption: Erosion on State Route 644 between Alexandria and Franconia, Virginia. Photo by T. W. Kines, April 8, 1949. State: Virginia.

Claiborne Avenue. Original caption: Looking north on South Claiborne Avenue from Melpomene Avenue - south approach of proposed overpass. Photo by T. W. Kines, April 9, 1951. State: Louisiana. Place: New Orleans.

New Jersey Turnpike One Mile North of Newark Interchange. Original caption: New Jersey Turnpike One Mile North of Newark Interchange. Photo by T. W. Kines, March 1952. State: New Jersey. Place: New Jersey Turnpike.

Connections to Service Station on Important Arteries. Original caption: Photo by T. W. Kines, March 1949. State: Virginia.

Gasoline Station, Bull Run, Virginia, on U.S. 211. Original caption: Note wide exit to a narrow two-lane heavy-traveled highway. Photo by T. W. Kines, Dec. 1949. State: Virginia. Place: Bull Run.

Approaches to Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, Memphis, Tennessee. Original caption: Approaches to Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, Memphis, Tennessee. Photos by T. W. Kines, April 1951. State: Tennessee. Place: Memphis.

Taylor County, located between Perry and Cross City. Original caption: Florida FA Project 92 E, Taylor County, located between Perry and Cross City. US Highway 19, SR 500. Length 7.094 mi. Width 22 ft. Type 472, surface treated crushed stone macadam. Built 1942. Photo taken by W. H. Simonson November 20, 1945. State: Florida.

Secondary state route west of Morris, Connecticut. Original caption: Secondary state route west of Morris, Connecticut. June 19, 1956. Photo by T. W. Kines. June 19, 1956. State: Connecticut.

U.S. 40, or Express Highway, looking east from atop Sarah Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. Original caption: U.S. 40, or Express Highway, looking east from atop Sarah Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by T. W. Kines. April 1951. State: Missouri. Place: Saint Louis.

Transit Terminal at District Line at Wisconsin Avenue, NW. State: Washington, DC.

On U.S. 40 South of Elkton, Maryland. Original caption: On U. S. 40 South of Elkton, Md. Note wall designed traffic island at entrance to gas station. Such islands serve to separate fast moving traffic from vehicles entering and leaving the service area. Low growing types of planting are preferable to the high growing trees planted in this island, however. State: Maryland. Place: Elkton.

National Pike (Cumberland Road), Maryland. Original caption: Copied August 1939 by H. H. Ritter. State: Maryland.

Interurban Busses Connect with City Busses. Original caption: Interurban busses connect with city busses at terminal on Connecticut Avenue, N. W., at the Chevy Chase Circle. J. K. Hillers - May 13, 1942. State: Washington, DC.

Completed Road Mix Oiling on A. Luna Street Near Pasig River Bridge, Rizal Province. Original caption: Completed road mix oiling on A. Luna Street near Pasig River Bridge, Rizal Province. Philippine Project PR 11(1), March 23, 1947. Originally paved by Philippine Bureau of Public Works prior to the war. War damage and lack of maintenance during the Jap occupation resulted in surface reverting to plain gravel. Dust control project using Philippine Rehabilitation funds, by Philippine Bureau of Public Works force account crews under general supervision of Public Roads started in Dec. 1947. Sc-2 oil and pit-run material road mixed in place 2 inches thick, sealed with RC-2 oil and sand cover. State: Philippines.

View of New Jersey Turnpike from Newark Interchange-Pulaski Highway Overpass. Original caption: View of New Jersey Turnpike from Newark Interchange-Pulaski Highway Overpass. Photo by T. W. Kines, March 1952. State: New Jersey. Place: New Jersey Turnpike.

Road in Florida. Original caption: Secondary road near Vero Beach, Florida (Route A1A) Photo by T. W. Kines, January 1952. State: Florida.

Station 0/50 Looking Northwesterly. Original caption: FAP 11-D - Station 0/50 looking northwesterly - showing finished roadway. State: Hawaii.

Stalled Truck Being Taken to Repair Shop; Sign South of Suicide Hill. Original caption: 43-1896-A: One of the many trucks that had been stalled during the severe winter is being taken to the nearest repair shop. Original caption: 43-1896-B: Sign just south of "Suicide Hill". Photos taken by Gail K. Pinkstaff. State: Alaska.

View of Hampton Avenue layout on project 475-B. State: Missouri.

Photograph Taken During Filming of "Travelers Toll". Original caption: Taken during filming of "Wheels of Progress" - "Travelers Toll." J. K. Hillers - 1927. State: Maryland Place: Meadows.

The Alaska Highway. Original caption: The Army Road has been improved by 1943 construction at this point just west of the divide between McKenzie and Yukon Drainage. Section C. Mile post 1017. July 20, 1943. Photo by Pinkstaff. State: Alaska.

Porter Street-Klingle Road interchange. Original caption: View of the Porter Street-Klingle Road interchange, in Washington, D.C. Photo by T. W. Kines, Aug 26, 1953. State: District of Columbia. Place: Washington.

Roads - Missouri. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

Underpass on U.S. Route 59 and U.S. Route 83, Laredo, Texas. Original caption: Underpass on U.S. Route 59 and U.S. Route 83, Laredo, Texas. Photo Jan 15, 1950. State: Texas. Place: Laredo.

Gravel Road, Entering Yellowstone Valley Canyon, South of Livingston. Original caption: Entering Yellowstone Canyon, A. L. Westgard - 1912. Entering Yellowstone Valley Canyon, south of Livingstone. Gravel road. A. L. Westgard. July 1912. State: Montana Place: Livingston.

Gasoline Service Stations on Old Georgetown Road. Original caption: 49-2434-F - Gasoline service station located at intersection of Auburn Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. View taken across Old Georgetown Road looking into station area. Note lack of adequate radii for easy turning movements in and out of station. Original caption: 49-2434-G - Gasoline service station located at intersection of Cordell Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. Note the lack of adequate radii for turning movements into pump stand from highway. Photos by T. W. Kines, October 1949. State: Maryland. Place: Bethesda.

Station 58 Looking North. Original caption: Station 58 looking north toward the end of project. State: Hawaii.

Tunnel entrance to Chattanooga, U.S. Routes 11 and 64. Original caption: Tunnel entrance to Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. Routes 11 and 64. Photo by T. W. Kines, April 2, 1951. State: Tennessee. Place: Chattanooga.

Colorado FAP 190, Looking West at Junction of U.S. 50 and S.H. 183 to Fort Lyon. Original caption: Colorado FAP 190. Looking west at junction of U.S. 50 and S.H. 183 to Fort Lyon. Photo taken January 10 & 11, 1939. State: Colorado.

Intersection of Monroe & Michigan Avenue looking north; Service drives and truck terminal on Ogden Avenue. Original caption: 48-996 - Intersection of Monroe & Michigan Ave. looking north. Original caption: 48-997 - Service drives and truck terminal on Ogden Ave. Photos by T. W. Kines. July 26, 1948. State: Illinois. Place: Chicago.

Roads - Minnesota. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

SN FAP 27-A(1) Bayamon- Vega Alta Road. Original caption: Looking east from main La Plata River bridge. Shows sagged grade line between the two structures which is intended to act as a "fuse plug" during extraordinary high water. Original plans provided for a horizontal grade line between bridges. SN FAP 27-A(1) Bayamon- Vega Alta Road. State: Puerto Rico.

Looking south from north end of dual-dual section of U.S. 1 at Newark Airport. Original caption: 47-1441 - Looking south from north end of dual-dual section of US 1 at Newark Airport. Original caption: 47-1442 - Looking south along dual-dual section of US 1 at Newark Airport from a point near north end. Photos by T. W. Kines Sept. 13, 1947. State: New Jersey. Place: Newark.

U.S. Route 30 Three Miles West of Valparaiso. Original caption: Dual highway three miles west of Valparaiso, Indiana, on U.S. Route 30. Photos by T. W. Kines, Aug. 5, 1948. State: Indiana.

Highway Between Kassel and Gottingen. State: Germany.

Gasoline Service Station Located at Wisconsin & Western Avenues NW. Original caption: Gasoline service station located at Wisconsin and Western Avenues and Military Road, N. W. View showing the approaches on Wisconsin Avenue. Note the car trying to leave the station area. Photo by T. W. Kines, October 1949. State: Washington, DC.

Port Street Grade Separation On U.S. 1. Original caption: Looking south toward Port Street grade separation which is just north of the north end of the dual-dual section of U.S. 1 at Newark Airport. Photo by T. W. Kines, Sept. 13, 1947. State: New Jersey.

Virginia Routes 644 and 636 overpassing Shirley Memorial Highway. Original caption: Virginia Routes 644 and 636 overpassing Shirley Memorial Highway. General view looking north. Photo by C. H. Ritter, April 28, 1950. State: Virginia. Place: Shirley Memorial Highway.

Santa Mesa Boulevard in Manila, Philippine Islands, Reconstructed Since the War. State: Philippines. Place: Manila.

Gasoline Station on U.S. 91 in Farmington, Utah. Original caption: Photo by C. H. Ritter, September 1952. State: Utah.

Heavy traffic on Merritt Parkway caused by accident one mile north; Toll gate on Merritt Parkway. Original caption: 47-2109. Heavy traffic on Merritt Parkway caused by accident one mile north. Original caption: 47-2110. Toll gate on Merritt Parkway. State: Connecticut.

State Route 128. Original caption: State Route 128, the new circumferentail route around Boston, at the Grove Street underpass near Lexington. State: Massachusetts.

Gasoline Service Station Located at Largo, Maryland. Original caption: Gasoline service station located at Largo, Maryland, on a site at intersection of highways. In contrast to the other two stations, this modern station layout takes into account the use of adequate space for station facilities. Photo by T. W. Kines, October 1949. State: Maryland. Place: Largo.

Roads - North Carolina. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

Description: Road W. of Government House. Location: Weihaiwei, China Date: 1916 china, asia, asiathroughalens

Pottsville, Pennsylvania Bypass. State: Pennsylvania.

The Queen Elizabeth Way at Jordan Harbour. State: Canada.

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