| During most
of its first two decades the Pennsylvania Turnpike was promoted and considered
by many as "The Crown Jewel" of the American highway system. The
highway was spoken in magnificent terms and was touted as a modern example
of safe, high speed, and scenic travel. However, soon after the birth
of the Interstate system in 1956, the PA Turnpike would become outdated
in comparison to the more modern Interstate. During the 1960s, the
first of many changes would occur on the Turnpike to make the highway more
compliant with Interstate standards.
Today, with ongoing construction and heavy traffic, it is difficult to imagine the wonder and charm that the Turnpike had in its first 20 years. The 1950s PA Turnpike Postcard Slide show captures the original turnpike prior to the creation of the Interstate Highway System. The 20 postcard slide show includes original captions found on the back of the linen cards from the early 1950s. For the best viewing experience please hit the F11 key on your keyboard for a full screen display! Site Navigation:
(C) 2005 William Lawson
|