Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-u-s-interstate-system-turns-fifty Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript The U.S. interstate system began in 1956, fulfilling the dream of Dwight Eisenhower, who spoke of it to Congress a year earlier. The interstate has transformed the American landscape and U.S. commerce. An author discusses the role the nation's highways have played in charting its history. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JEFFREY BROWN: What has 47,000 miles of asphalt and concrete, 55,000 bridges, 100 tunnels, nearly 15,000 interchanges, and no stoplights? The U.S. interstate highway system, connecting every corner of the country, bringing, among many other things, faster and safer travel to visit the grandparents, burgers that taste the same from one end of America to another, the possibilities of suburban living, and the agonies of hours-long commutes.The project began in 1956, fulfilling the dream of Dwight Eisenhower, who spoke of it to Congress a year earlier.DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States: A modern highway system is essential to meet the needs of our growing population, our expanding economy, and our national security. JEFFREY BROWN: The seed had been planted in 1919, when young Lieutenant Colonel Eisenhower joined an Army convoy traveling from Washington to San Francisco assigned to identify a quick route for moving war supplies. The trip took 62 days on roads so rough that nine trucks were abandoned along the way.To mark the 50th anniversary of the system, a commemorative convoy recently reversed the path of the 1919 journey. Along for the ride was Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, who said his great-grandfather would have been mightily impressed. MERRILL EISENHOWER ATWATER, Great-Grandson Of President Dwight D. Eisenhower: How can you imagine something like this? I know that he had ideas for it, but he didn't — I am sure he didn't realize the commerce and the economic impact that it's had on this — this country. It's — it's phenomenal. We do everything from getting a cup of coffee at Starbucks to driving all the way around, you know, the country in a convoy. JEFFREY BROWN: Yesterday, overlooking the interstate just outside of Washington, I spoke with another member of the convoy, highway historian Dan McNichol, author of "The Roads That Built America: The Incredible Story of the U.S. Interstate System."Dan McNichol, welcome.DAN MCNICHOL, Author, "The Roads That Built America: The Incredible Story of the U.S. Interstate System": Thanks for having me. JEFFREY BROWN: You write that the interstate system is a — quote — "prime example of greatness taken for granted." What do you mean by that? DAN MCNICHOL: Well, in this country, we seem to have forgotten about our greatness, about building great, great civil structures, like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building.The interstate system is — is unrivaled. It's bigger than the Great Wall of China, the pyramids, any of the canals, the Suez and Panama. And we seem to just think it's like running water. It's just going to be there for us.