Travel
Fueled by Uncertainty: What It Really Took to Drive America's Most Famous Highway in 1950
Driving from Chicago to Los Angeles sounds like an adventure today — and it is. But in 1950, it was something closer to an expedition. Before GPS, interstate rest stops, and roadside assistance apps, a cross-country drive meant carrying paper maps, praying your engine held together through the Mojave, and knowing that some motel doors simply wouldn't open for you depending on the color of your skin.
Mar 13, 2026