1930 American Automobile Association Road Map of the Central United States

This is a 1930 AAA and 'Ontario to Florida Short Route U.S. 25 - U.S. 1 Association' road map of the central United States. Coverage extends from Cochrane, Ontario, south to Key West, Florida. 'Heavy red lines' indicate U.S. Highways 25 and 1. Cities and towns are identified and distances between major stops are provided. Thinner red lines trace connecting routes from Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville. The dashed red line in Canada indicates the forty-four miles of unpaved road between Owen Sound, Ontario, and the US Border. 'Heavy black lines indicate alternative routes', while thinner lines detail the general road network. Information concerning the route, including touristic stopovers, is printed on the verso.

Highway Associations

The movement promoting the construction of 'good quality' roads did not begin with the invention of the automobile, but rather with the bicycle. At the time, most interurban roads were unpaved and impractical for cycling. The 'Good Roads Movement' was inaugurated in May 1880 to advocate for bicycle enthusiasts, riding clubs, and manufacturers. By 1910, the American Automobile Association (AAA) jumped onboard, along with over 100 other local and national organizations. 'Road booster' organizations emerged to promote specific, often branded, highways. By the 1920s, about 250 'named' highways, each with their own boosters, crossed the United States. 'Road boosters' still exist, but most disbanded in the 1950s and 60s with the emergence of the federally funded Interstate Highway System.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the American Automobile Association and distributed by the Ontario to Florida Short Route U.S. 25 - U.S. 1 Association. We note a single cataloged example in OCLC, located at the University of Chicago.