Adventures in Travel…Illustrated Strip Maps US Highways

Where to eat, sleep, and play from coast to coast.

“From the inception of the Travel Mat we have adhered rigidly to a basic rule: In order to be listed on a Travel Mat, the tourist accommodation must be absolutely the best available in the locality. It must be clean, well-managed, agreeable. The service must be good. The prices must be commensurate with the cuisine…We are now answering a demand of long standing – that we collect all of the Travel Mats into a single publication so that travelers will be able to see at a glance the best route, the best accommodations, and the outstanding tourist attractions along the way” – J. Alvin Dru’yor.

This fascinating relic from the Golden Era of automobile tourism was published around 1963 by Press Publishing Company of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. It contains a reduced example of each of the dozens of different ‘Travel Mats’ issued by the firm, founded in 1948 by J. Alvin Dru’yor. Each page presents a simplified map of a United States highway or named route (i.e., Illinois Tollway, Pennsylvania Turnpike) that identifies primary towns and distances between points.

Accompanying text and a diagrammatic chart provide recommendations for different traveler amenities (hotels, restaurants, etc.) and locations of interest. According to the introductory text, Dru’yor (or a licensed representative) has personally visited each spot! Often, illustrations will also be present, highlighting local historic sites, industrial products, and other points of pride across the nation.