As the twentieth century wore on, the automobile increasingly became a critical component of the American way of life. A car allows an individual the freedom to travel not just around town but across the country. People drive from east to west or south to north not just out of necessity—to transport goods, or to move one's belongings and resettle in another section of the country—but also for pleasure and curiosity. America's growing appetite for hitting the road parallels the development of the highway system: a series of asphalt and concrete roadways that eventually linked every area of the continental United States.

The construction of America's highway system was a gradual process. The Lincoln Highway, the nation's first coast-to-coast roadway, was completed back in 1915. It linked New York City and San Francisco, California, and came to be known as "America's Main Street." Over the...