Trailways Presents Vacation and Play USA

Pictorial map of the United States issued by a competitor to Greyhound in 1940.

The rapid expansion of Greyhound Lines in the 1920’s and 1930’s prompted the Interstate Commerce Commission to encourage smaller bus companies to cooperate in order to form more effective competition. The resulting National Trailways Bus System was organized in 1936 and consisted of nearly 100 independent operators across the United States under one brand licensing agreement.

This map was published by the NTBS in 1940 as promotional material for its lines and uses color to identify the various regions of the overall network. Charming illustrations showcase the diverse history, recreation and culture available to Trailways riders. The map captures the brief window of optimism when America was finally pulling itself out of the Great Depression, but before it would become embroiled in the Second World War.