FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-110

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (June 29, 2026) – This edition of FWM takes us on the road in America.

THE MAIN STREETS OF AMERICA

On June 29, 1956 President Eisenhower signed the bill for construction of the US interstate highway system (Federal Highway Act).  It was the largest public works project in US history.

For the next 13 years, the government funded the construction and upgrade of 41,000 miles of roads crisscrossing the entire 48 states.  While many considered this mainly a national security activity, it improved mobility for the average American, decreased the cost of freight, and standardized many details of highway travel from state to state, like lane size and speed limits. 

Although the federal government constructed the system, the roads are owned and operated by the states where they are located.

With additions to the 1956 project, now 90% of people living in the US are within 5 miles of the highway network.  The longest route is I-90, which runs just over 3000 miles from Seattle to Boston, while the shortest is I-878 in New York City at 0.7 miles.

This Greyhound US route map from 1934 shows a key for the routes prior to the interstate system.

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.