Fast Cars, Wide Roads, Blue Skies: Vintage Postcards From Across America

The broad roads full of tail-finned splendour are matched by the promise of wide open blue skies inviting the traveller to go further.

Seal Beach, California, USA, postcards, vintage

Seal Beach, California.

Postcards are the currency of affection. Sent by friends and lovers, holidaymakers and children: ‘Here I am, hope you’re well.’

Picture postcards sent from holiday destinations (‘Wish you were here’) allowed those at home to imagine exotic distant shores or the pleasures of golden beaches.

Vintage postcards of America from the 1950s and early 1960s fire up thoughts of Jack Kerouac‘s Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty aimlessly criss-crossing the country in search of adventure which “One is always nearer by not keeping still.”

The broad roads full of tail-finned splendour are matched by the promise of wide open blue skies inviting the traveller to go further. As television once created a mental image of America through shows like Kojak, Columbo, Starsky and Hutch, and Canon, picture postcards offered a glimpse of treasures to be uncovered one day.

Everett, washington, USA, postcards, vintage, cars

Everett, Washington.

 

Roseburg, Oregon, USA, postcards, vintage, cars, streets

Roseburg, Oregon.

 

Elgin, Illinois, USA, postcards, vintage, streets

Elgin, Illinois.

 

Standpoint, Idaho, USA, postcards, streets, vintage, cars

Standpoint, Idaho.

 

Miles City, Montana, USA, postcards, vintage

Miles City, Montana.

 

Wenatchee, Washington, USA, postcards, vintage

Wenatchee, Washington.

 

Carson City, Nevada, USA, postcards, vintage, streets, cars

Carson City, Nevada.

 

Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, postcards, vintage, cars, streets

Scottsdale, Arizona.

 

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA, postcards, vintage, streets, city

Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

 

Lewiston, Idaho, USA, postcards, vintage, cars, streets

Lewiston, Idaho.

 

Anchorage, Alaska, USA, postcards, vintage, city, cars, streets

Anchorage, Alaska.

 

Santa Monica, California, USA, postcards, vintage, cars, streets

Santa Monica, California.

 

West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, postcards, vintage, streets, cars

West Palm Beach, Florida.

H/T Vintage Everyday.

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