Throughout the 20th cenutry, roads in the United States improved dramatically, with major private and public construction initiatives and improvements in technology. Increased use by motorists, cyclists, and commercial transport led to greater need for reliable, safe road facilities. Local and federal governments all had a hand in building and maintaining the important road infrastructure. Major eras in development include:
- Good Roads Movement
- Texas Highway Department
- Great Depression and New Deal Era
- Post-World War II and Interstate
This Transcontinental Highway map dates to 1918 and shows the major routes of the early-20th century transportation network. This map is part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) collection. Texas agencies like TSLAC and the General Land Office serve as repositories for important historical maps from all eras of Texas development.