FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-061

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (April 15, 2026) – This edition of Fun with Maps puts us on the road travelling the USA by map.  

FOLLOW THE PAINTED POLES

Rand McNally published its first road atlas – Rand McNally Auto Chum – on April 15, 1924.  With the increasing popularity of travel by automobile for longer trips, the atlas covered more than the usual city maps.

At that time not all roads were numbered, but road names were used.  This caused confusion as roads changed names in different municipalities.  The numbered road system was pioneered by Rand McNally and introduced in 1917.  The company even manufactured the new road signs.

There was no index for cities and landmarks, so drivers basically had to thumb through the pages to find their destinations.

Rand McNally began as a printing company with The Chicago Tribune as their major project but moved into the transportation business by printing tickets and timetables for the Chicago railroads.

Here is an earlier Rand McNally map – that of the US from 1898.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.