See America by Luxurious Bus (1932)

"Like riding in a $10,000 limousine"

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This whimsical view of the US was drawn by the gifted artist John Groth. It was issued in 1932 (one of the worse years of the Great Depression) to promote: “36,000 Miles of Vacation Highways — Reaching Every Nook and Corner of America — by Luxurious Greyhound Bus Lines”

Abandoning realistic proportions allowed Groth to run wild with decorative elements and illustrated vignettes. A huge fish spanning the Great Lakes heralds Michigan’s claim to the Fishing Paradise of the World, while a “wind-head” aids sailors in Lake Superior.

The image is a fantastic example of persuasive cartography, with a map projection that totally disregards geographic reality. The Midwest and Great Plains states are shown with some level of spatial congruity, but the Southeast, West Coast, and New England are highly distorted. Compare the relative sizes of Wisconsin and Louisiana!

The map was found in a promotional flyer from Greyhound that highlighted “posh” service, varied destinations and low fares.

“Lets’ Go Places—See Things—and meet interesting people …. Without Waiting for an Inheritance”

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Chicagoan John Groth (1908 – 1988) became the first Art Director for Esquire Magazine at the age of twenty-five. He later worked as a war correspondent in Europe during World War II - where he was among the first troops to liberate Paris.

Groth rode on the first GI Jeep into liberated Paris in 1944 which inspired Ernest Hemingway to quip "if John had made his drawings from any closer up-front, he would've had sat in the Krauts' laps."

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Artist: John Groth

Date: 1932

Publisher: Greyhound Lines

Title: 36,000 Miles of Vacation Highways - Reaching Every Nook and Corner of America - by Luxurious Greyhound Bus Lines.

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection: Map | Details from Flyer