Rand McNally Official 1919 Auto Trails Map District Number 3 Southern Peninsula of Michigan, Northern Indiana, Northwestern Ohio

“The Milwaukee Journal has a unique role in the history of Wisconsin’s State Trunk Highway system, thanks to one man: “Brownie” Rowland.” – Judy Aulik

This detailed road map covers Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and portions of northwestern Ohio and northern Indiana. Inset maps visible in the upper and lower left corners extend the image to include the city of Chicago and the Upper Peninsula. A key on the right side shows the various markings used to denote auto trails throughout the image.

Michigan’s first numbered trunkline highways were organized in 1918-1919, though they have yet to appear on the map. Accompanying text, overprinted in red, identifies travelers’ amenities like auto garages, hotels, restaurants, car dealerships, and service stations. Population figures are also provided, showing towns with as few as 20 inhabitants (Pearl).

The map was published in 1919 in Chicago by Rand McNally and issued by the Milwaukee Journal, according to the illustrated wraps. The front cover features the distinctive logo of William ‘Brownie’ Rowland – an early automobile enthusiast and employee of the newspaper who worked his way from mail-boy to vice-president. Rowland, with his mother as navigator, was one of the first to chart Wisconsin’s available motor routes and helped the state to pioneer the implementation of numbered highways in 1918, the first state to do so (just before Michigan).

Source: Michigan Highways; AGSL Blog