Auto Trails & Early Highways — United States of America Wall Map (1923)

A snapshot of America before the Interstate era, rendered with clarity and restraint. Published by National Geographic in 1923—the Society’s first U.S. map—this sheet threads the nation together with named auto trails like the Lakes-to-Gulf Highway and King of Trails. Fine linework, period typography, and meticulous detail reward both room-distance viewing and close study. It’s a cartographic time capsule—ordered, navigable, and unmistakably of its era—made to study, admire, and display.

More Than a Map – A Testament to History

This isn’t just wall art—it’s a window onto American mobility between the wars. Trace long-distance named highways as they link towns, cities, and regions across a rapidly modernising landscape. Ideal for educators, historians, designers, road-trippers, and collectors, this sheet stands alone beautifully and pairs perfectly with later road and Interstate maps for a then-and-now comparison.

Hang it in studios, libraries, classrooms, museums, offices, or at home to invite reflection, study, and conversation.

Premium Materials & Finishes

We treat history with the respect it deserves. That’s why we offer multiple formats, each produced using high-quality materials and modern archival printing.

🌟 Archival Paper Print
Printed on heavyweight 160gsm archival-grade paper.
Smooth matte finish reduces glare and preserves fine linework and small labels.
Ideal for framing under glass—clean, timeless, and built to last.

💎 Laminated Edition
Encapsulated in two sheets of 80-micron gloss laminate using true thermal bonding—not just surface lamination.
Moisture-resistant, wipe-clean surface—perfect for classrooms and high-traffic reference spaces.

Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered rails with a fitted hanging cord provide a polished, ready-to-hang presentation—no frame required. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)

🏆 Museum-Quality Canvas
Printed on heavyweight 395gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas for rich texture and exceptional strength.
Pigment-based, fade-resistant inks deliver deep tone and crisp typography that endure for generations.

Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered to enhance the wood grain and protect against wear; top cord for effortless hanging—elegant in any setting. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)

Specifications

Why Choose This Map

✔ Era-True Snapshot: America’s named highway network exactly as charted in 1923.
✔ Decorative & Scholarly: Period aesthetics with genuine reference value for research and display.
✔ Clarity at Scale: Crisp labels and fine linework read beautifully near or far.
✔ Perfect Pairing: Contrast with mid-century Interstate maps for a compelling timeline.
✔ Archival Craft: Premium substrates and inks preserve contrast, labels, and linework for decades.

Our Commitment

We believe that preserving history is as important as telling it. Every map is printed locally in Australia using state-of-the-art technology, carefully checked by hand, and packed with care. From the moment it leaves our workshop to the day it hangs on your wall, we ensure quality you can trust and a legacy you’ll be proud to share.

Bring the road-tripping twenties to your wall. Order the United States of America (1923) today—a faithful, beautifully produced sheet that turns a room into a conversation.