June 29 - September 4, 2001

Sponsored by Continental Airlines.

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island,
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf Stream waters,
This land is made for you and me.

Woody Guthrie, 1940; revised 1952

Overview
Most of us dream about taking a vacation from the routine of our daily lives. It has become a summertime ritual to take to the skies, the rails, and the roads to get away and to explore new horizons. Whether you prefer soaring mountains, rugged coastlines, or a bustling metropolis, the United States offers a wide array of thrilling places to experience.

During the boom years of the Roaring Twenties, Americans discovered tourism as a fitting outlet for their newfound wealth in what appeared to be an ever-expanding economy. The 1929 stock market crash brought these heady days to an abrupt end. See America! takes us back to the period of the Great Depression, when the severe economic crisis weighed heavily on the nation. At the same time, escalating political tensions foreshadowed a war that would sweep the globe. Woody Guthrie's This Land Was Made for You and Me (see excerpt above) was written during that era partially in response to the growing number of homeless men who took to the roads and rails in search of work.

Recognizing that citizens needed to be reassured that America would regain its place as a world power, the federal government set out to boost Americans' spirits by reawakening interest in their homeland. Under President Roosevelt's leadership, federal tax dollars were used to put citizens to work in positions ranging from mechanics and laborers to artists and writers. The nation focused inward, constructing roads, bridges, schools, and parks. Artists were employed to make posters that captured the wonders of the American landscape for the U.S. Travel Bureau, and the Federal Writers' Project produced the American Guide series - combining travel information with essays on American history, folklore, and culture. The posters and guidebooks were appealing reminders of the many options still within reach for people yearning to escape the harsh realities of the times, even if "escape" meant a visit to a nearby beach or national park. Besides inspiring domestic travel, the programs affirmed America's place as a land of opportunity and greatness. Explore this tumultuous period in American history through travel posters, books, decorative arts, and ephemera selected from the museum's collection.

FEATURED OBJECT:
Poster, See America. Railroads of the United States, Canada, and Mexico and the Pullman Company, 1939
Designed by Leslie Darrell Ragan (American, b. 1897)
Publisher attributed to Pullman Palace Car Company, Chicago
Commercial color lithograph
41 3/8 x 27 5/8"
TD1989.240.1
Photo: Silvia Ros


Back to Past Exhibitions Main