1954 Dunning Pictorial Tourist Map of the United States and U.S. Route 20

This is a 1954 Dunning pictorial tourist map of the United States highlighting historic U.S. Route 20.

A Closer Look at the Map

A black line defines U.S. 20 from Boston, Massachusetts, to Newport, Oregon, passing through Cleveland, Chicago, Waterloo, Chadron, Casper, Boise, and Bend. Pictorial vignettes illustrate sites of interest and stereotypical perspective, for example, Old Faithful marks Yellowstone National Park, a statue of 'Buffalo Bill' Cody indicates Cody, Wyoming, a skyscraper bending in the wind marks Chicago (the 'Windy City'), and Niagara Falls appears with a newly married couple. None of the states are labeled, but some include vignettes, such as 'Cheese and Dairy Land' for Wisconsin, 'Land of Many Lakes' for Minnesota, and 'Desert Country' and 'Gamblin' Country' appear in Nevada.

The 'Comic Strip'

Comic illustrations occupy the lower half of the recto and most of the verso. This narrative follows a young cowboy (read: 'outlaw') who 'kidnaps' his parents, forcing them to take a fun trip 'to see the best vacation land in our country'. As the trip progresses panel by panel, the boy highlights sites and activities along the way, from the Historic Sellor's Cabin and Memorial in Ainsworth, Nebraska and the 'famed natural bridge' near Douglas, Wyoming (where one might encounter the mysterious jackalope), to the hot springs at Thermopolis, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, and finally the Pacific Coast at Newport, Oregon. Intriguingly, the boy even points out to his readers that it's important to stay away from the wildlife because they are 'actually untamed'.

Publication History and Census

The map was designed by Dunning and the comic strip was done by Dunning and Sullins. The whole was published by the Prairie Publishing Company of Casper, Wyoming. This is the only known cataloged example.