Across the Continent

Race across the U.S. with this postwar Parker Brothers game.

“Across the Continent” was a board game first introduced in 1901 by the Parker Brothers of Salem, Massachusetts. Two or more players would traverse the United States in an attempt to visit various destinations indicated by drawn cards (not included). The first player to reach their location and return to the point of departure is declared the winner. This is a later version, published in 1952, and it presents an updated game board with a changed title and a different color scheme than the earlier editions.

Despite the facelift, the overall aesthetic is largely the same. Illustrated vignettes highlight the agricultural production, commercial exports, natural beauty, and major urban areas of the continental United States. Various means of transportation are noted throughout, though the emphasis remains on the railroad (as noted by the cartouche). The multiple iterations of the game and its various inspirations like Rail Baron and Ticket to Ride are a testament to its popularity and cultural legacy.