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Club Information Map Information Buy/Sell/Trade Maps Miscellaneous
| RMCA - April 2000 Newsletter PreviewThe Earliest Official State Highway Maps Although there is a keen interest in official state highway maps among RMCA members, it is seldom acknowledged that there are actually two quite different types of such maps. The first kind is usually just a plain black-on-white map, printed on one side of the paper, of the state's highway system, and perhaps one other color... red, usually, to indicate work that has been done or that is proposed. These maps are printed in small numbers, usually for official reports by the state's highway commissioner or engineer, and they are either pasted into the back cover of the report or inserted into an envelope in such a book. Other copies may be used for official records, planning and the like, within the state's highway department. Maps of this type began in the 1890's as that was when state highway departments began to appear in the US. In much more elaborate form, such maps are still made and used today. The second type of official state highway map is the one that interests most collectors. It is the kind made to give (or to sell, nowadays, in some states!) to motorists as a goodwill gesture, to aid in the pleasure of driving through the state, pointing out the scenic and historic wonders that should be seen by travelers. These are the maps with the pretty colorful covers, with a highly detailed map of the state on one side, and a lot of pictures, charts, and promotional material on the other, and as such, they are the ones most avidly sought by collectors. Maps of this type began in most states in the 1920's or some time in the '30's, but a few states did not issue such maps until much later than that. ... Road Maps: Their Defenders and Detractors! Oooohhh... the poor much maligned road map. The item that should be lauded for helping millions and millions find their way, often finds itself as the butt of jokes. Of course, can we expect that something so often folded against its grain, crumpled up, and finally discarded to actually be respected? But there are those who defend and even elevate this lowly cast-off. But just who are they anyhow... Packrats, weird little creatures who line their nests with stuff. Not just edibles and comforts either. Nooo, these creatures surround themselves with everything and anything. With them the maps can be easily lost, even as it is treasured. ... Alternate Routes In 1926, the U.S. Federal route marking system was established, and this led to the establishment of alternate routes to give the motorists a choice in traveling. Some are still around today, others have been re-designated. There are a fair amount of them, and, as mentioned, but to motorists choose which sites to see. U.S. 6 in Connecticut was given an alternate U.S. 6 in the first half of the 20th century when Connecticut Highway 14 was changed to such a driver preferred to go around Hartford. It began west of Willimantic and returned to U.S. 6 west of Waterbury. U.S. 5 also had an alternate from Hartford to Chicopee, Massachusetts. ... Conoco's Touraide a Hit with Travelers Most of us road map collectors have seen the moniker "Touraide" on Conoco maps. Some of us have even been lucky enough to add an actual Touraide routing kit to our collection. But I'll bet few of us has really given any thought to how enormously popular this service was. In the early thirties, it was the largest free travel service in the country, growing from 26,000 trip routings in 1930 to over 500,000 in 1936. ... Map Sheet West Coast Independents
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