“The United States Government has set aside for your enjoyment the choicest places on this continent – places of grandeur, beauty, and of wonder. These are for you. They are the playgrounds of the people. To see them is to make more hearty your affection and admiration for America.” – Foreword. This inviting promotional booklet outlines eight different National Park vacations for the intrepid rail traveler during the Roaring 20s. Each specially planned itinerary takes between 11 and 20 days and costs between $161 and $350 (assuming rail tickets were purchased). Overnight accommodations, automobile tours, and certain special excursions are included and described in detail. Issued by the Department of Tours of the Chicago & North Western Railway in 1928, the 48-page volume presents a wealth of details about the stunning landscapes, natural features, bustling cities, and dramatic views. Color maps by Rand McNally offer a succinct snapshot of the entire rail network, in addition to overviews of several National Parks and Forests (Zion, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, etc.). This example appears to have been used on a tour, as the title page and a loose sheet have some careful travel accounting, written in pencil.
