The road trip has been around for centuries, from trips throughout the Mediterranean geared to ancient Roman aristocrats to package tours of the Holy Land for Medieval pilgrims. Despite this long history, the birth of the tourism industry as we know it today emerged in the 19th century with the development of railroads and steamships, which offered relatively easy, inexpensive travel to a growing middle class. In the United States, railroads fed a boom in tourism and led to the development of destination resorts like Sun Valley. But U.S. tourism is probably best defined by the road trip, the classic American vacation that has sent countless travelers out onto highways visiting National Parks, historic sites and cultural destinations. In a country with huge regional variation, the road trip gives us the opportunity to get to know our nation in a deeper way, to reaffirm our identities as American. And while we travel to broaden our horizons, ultimately we return home knowing a little bit more about ourselves and our place in the world.

This project explores travel, tourism and the American road trip through visual arts, theatre, films and a lecture.

Exhibition on view December 13, 2013 – February 15, 2014.

This multidisciplinary project is generously supported by the Paul G Allen Foundation.