Americans were initially suspicious of the benefits of car ownership. But thanks to Henry Ford’s use of the assembly line to mass-produce the Model T, automobiles became convenient and affordable. Between 1910 and 1930, the number of cars in the United States rose from about 500,000 to 23 million. Road trips became an inexpensive way to relax and see the country.
The nation’s earliest roads were not well marked, however. If travelers looked carefully, they might spot colored rocks along roadsides or bands on posts marking certain routes. Names for roads tended to be specific to local places.
