Amazon.com Review
Review
Reviews from: Condé Nast Traveler
Communication Arts
Contemporary travel brochures and posters look positively bland compared with those from the early part of the twentieth century. See the U.S.A.: The Art of the American Travel Brochure celebrates that era with a nostalgic collection of images and phrases which seem at turns ironic, fanciful, and charming (about New York: "You fell like a pigmy amid the mammoth towers"; Oklahoma City: "Illuminated oil derricks gleam like Christmas trees in the night"). The book recalls the dawn of American tourism, when ever the most mundane destinations had the chance to be the next Eden.
When flipping through this colorful book, lyrics such as "Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam" and "She's a grand ol' flag" come rolling through my head. Perhaps it's due to the nationalistic colors of red, white and blue that dominate the book's cover. Inside, more than 200 vintage fill-color images travel well beyond the borders of our patriotic colors. Just like the titles suggest, See the USA takes us on a nostalgic journey through America via early modern travel and tourism brochures and pamphlets. The American roadtrip is practically a thing of the past as our world becomes smaller, global and airborne. Perusing these pages is to rediscover America, the idealized, fanciful and simpler era of American life. What seem to be the most mundane of destinations, become paradise, places like Decatur, "The Playground of Central Illinois" or Reno, Nevada, "Fun center of the West." Snippets of prose—often exaggerated, decidedly yankee or brutally honest—accompany many of these examples of commercial art. Who wouldn't want to visit Kentucky where the likeness of the Colonel bids you a warm welcome, a Kentucky traditions, or Rapid City, South Dakota, where "The climate is excellent and hog cholera is as yet a stranger." Bet you didn't know that Liberal, Kansas, used to tout itself as the "Pancake Hub of the Universe." All sorts of surprises from America's 50 states can be found in See the USA. It's divided into four sections: Parade of the State; Seaside America; Natural Attractions; and On Vacation. And for those readers who are hungry for more, the Bibliography and Source List will prove to be most helpful. After gazing at these visual treasures from America's past, you might find yourself hitting the road for your next vacation.
