Old Highway Maps of Texas
1917-1973
DFW Freeways Home
Page last updated or reviewed: June 1, 2015 (add 1957 Fort Worth)

Map Cover
1917 Texas, Clason MapsLegend
This map shows that there were very few roads in rural areas in 1917 and most rural towns relied on railroads for transportation. Automobile roads are shown in red. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
DallasMed  This shows the core of downtown only
AustinMed  
East TexasLarge  
West TexasLarge  


1924 Texas, Gulf OilLegend
This map includes a directory of the trail and highway markings that were used prior to the adoption of the highway numbering system. The numbers on the routes in the map correspond the the trail names in the index directory. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
Trail GuideGuide  This directory shows the distinctive markers for the automobile trails.
TexasMed  


Map Cover
1927 Texas, Humble OilLegend
The legend for this map also includes a trail marker directory, similar to the 1924 map. The red numbers on the maps correspond to the trail directory entries. Highways were also designated with the first generation of number designations, so many highways had both a number designation and a trail marker. Humble Oil is now part of ExxonMobil. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
DallasMed  
Fort WorthMed  
HoustonMed  
San AntonioMed  


Map Cover
1936 Texas, ConocoLegend
This map has detailed maps of cities. There is no indication of trail markers, so the trail marker system appears to be phased out by this time. This map also includes a map of the Texas Centennial Exposition at Fair Park in Dallas. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
DallasMed  Large  There were many Conoco stations in central Dallas
Fair ParkMed  Large  The 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition was held at Fair Park to commemorate the one-hundredth birthday of Texas.
Fort WorthMed  Large  Central Fort Worth also had strong coverage of Conoco stations. (Red triangles are Conoco stations)
HoustonMed  Large  
GalvestonMed  Large  This map shows a U.S. Immigrant Station on Pelican Island
San AntonioMed  Large  
East and Southeast TexasMed  Large  
Central TexasMed  Large  
West TexasMed  Large  Notice the lack of paved roads in West Texas. The Big Bend area was served by dirt roads only.


Map Cover
1936 Official Texas State Highway MapLegend
North TexasLarge  
Southeast and Central TexasLarge  
South TexasMed  
West TexasMed  This map shows that Big Bend National park was accessible only by a single primitive road, an "Unimproved Earth Road" which is now US 385
PanhandleMed  


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1939 Texas, Bay Petroleum
Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
DallasMed  
Fort WorthMed  
East TexasLarge  


Map Cover
1939 El Paso, Standard Oil
Note that the map cover illustration is a generic city scene, not representing El Paso. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
El PasoMed  Large  This also includes the adjacent section of south New Mexico


Map Cover
1942 Dallas, Dallas Railroad and Terminal CompanyLegend
This map was published by the transit company, Dallas Railroad and Terminal, which provided bus and streetcar service. The main purpose of this map is to show the bus and streetcar routes. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
Route listingMed  
Central DallasMed  Large  
North DallasMed  Large  I'm thinking that the bus routes in the Park Cities may have existed to provide transportation for domestic workers.
West DallasMed  Large  
Southeast DallasMed  Large  


Map Cover
1942 Texas, Humble OilLegend
The 1942 highway system was dominated by the US Highway routes. There were no freeways in Texas in 1942; the first freeway in Texas was Houston's Gulf Freeway in September 1948, and the first section of Central Expressway in Dallas opened on August 20, 1949. Humble Oil is now ExxonMobil
DallasMed  Large  This shows the original US Highway alignments
Fort WorthMed  Large  
HoustonMed  Large  
Southeast TexasMed  Large  
San AntonioMed  Large  
AustinMed  Large  
GalvestonLarge  
Corpus ChristiMed  
BeaumontLarge  


Map Cover
1949 Dallas, Ashburn Maps
Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
Central DallasMed  This map shows North Central Expressway as a dashed line, indicating it was under construction. The first section of Central Expressway opened in August 1949.
Northeast DallasMed  This map shows Mustang Airport along Northwest Highway between Central Expressway and White Rock Lake.
West DallasMed  


Map Cover
1950 Texas, Humble OilLegend
DallasMed  Large  The first section of Central Expressway (US 75) north of downtown opened in August 1949, but this map does not include the new freeway. US 75 is still shown on Ross and Greenville Avenues.
Fort WorthMed  Large  
Wichita FallsLarge  
North TexasMed  Large  
HoustonMed  Large  This map shows the first section of the Gulf Freeway which opened September 30, 1948.
GalvestonLarge  
BeaumontLarge  
Southeast TexasMed  Large  
San AntonioMed  Large  The first section of freeway on US 87 (now I-10) just northwest of downtown opened in 1949 but is not shown on this map.
AustinMed  Large  Notice that Lake Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake) does not appear on this map. Lake Lady Bird formed after the completion of Longhorn Dam in 1960.
Corpus ChristiLarge  


Map Cover
1951 Texas, Humble OilLegend
Compared to the 1950 Humble Oil map, this 1951 Humble map has a detailed view of the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
DallasMed  This map shows Central Expressway under construction north of Loop 12.
Fort WorthMed  
HoustonMed  Most of the Gulf Freeway between Houston and Galveston is under construction


Map Cover
1951 Official Texas State Highway MapLegend
This map includes a guide to Texas road signs, showing the style used at that time. Map scans courtesy of Terry Palmer.
Sign GuideMed  
West TexasHigh  This map shows that by 1951, most of main route into Big Bend National park (then SH 227, now US 385) was paved. However, the map still shows an unpaved section inside the park.


Map Cover
1952 Austin Chamber of Commerce
The first item on the listing of points of interest on the cover (click on cover for larger view) refers to "Zilker Springs". The description for Zilker Park also refers to Zilker Springs with the accompanying text "formerly Barton Springs". So apparently the name was changed to Zilker Springs, and then back to Barton Springs.
Central and Southwest AustinLarge  
Northwest AustinLarge  
Downtown Austin inset and northeastLarge  


Map Cover
1954 Texas, Humble OilLegend
Compared to the 1950 map, this 1954 Humble map greatly expanded coverage of the DFW and Houston metropolitan areas.
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  This shows US 75 Central Expressway under construction in Richardson. That section of freeway opened in 1954 and 1955.
DFW region, DallasMed  Large  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  Large  
North TexasMed  Large  
HoustonMed  Large  This map shows several planned freeways as dashed lines. The Baytown Tunnel, opened on September 22, 1953, is shown on this map.
Southeast TexasMed  Large  Four-lane divided highways in rural areas were still rare in 1954, with the US 75 between Houston and Galveston (now the Gulf Freeway) the longest sustained length.
Austin and San AntonioMed  Large  The first planned freeways are indicated on these maps. This map includes a detailed view of downtown San Antonio.


Map Cover
1954 Texas, ChevronLegend
The Chevron map has less detail in the urban areas compared to the Humble map.
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  
North TexasMed  Large  
HoustonMed  Large  
Southeast TexasMed  Large  


Map Cover
1955 Dallas Transfer and Terminal Warehouse Company
Central DallasLarge  This view shows the planned route of Interstate 30 on the south side of downtown, and the planned route of Interstate 35E into South Oak Cliff.
North DallasLarge  


Map Cover
1956 Texas, Humble OilLegend
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  This map shows the Dallas-Fort Worth turnpike under construction
DFW region, DallasMed  Large  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  Large  
North TexasMed  Large  
HoustonMed  Large  
Southeast TexasMed  Large  
Austin and San AntonioMed  Large  This includes a detailed view of downtown San Antonio


Map Cover
1957 Texas, GulfLegend
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  This map includes the DFW Turnpike, which opened Aug 27, 1957.
North TexasMed  Large  
Southeast TexasMed  Large  


Map Cover
1957 Fort Worth, AshburnLegend
Regional MapLarge  This map shows the proposed alignments of many Fort Worth freeways, including the north-south freeway in west Fort Worth which was dropped from plans soon after this map was made. This map also shows an east-west route in Arlington between present-day I-20 and I-30. I had not seen that proposed alignment on any other map, but it would have been an eastward extension of the proposed East Rosedale freeway.
North Fort WorthLarge  
Northeast Fort WorthLarge  
Southeast Fort WorthLarge  The inset map for Amon Carter field shows a proposed extension of the northwest-southeast runway to 12,000 feet. That proposal did not happen, and instead the north-south runway was extended (but not to 12,000 feet).
South Fort WorthLarge  The southwest section of the loop is identified as being under construction.
Southwest Fort WorthLarge  
Downtown Fort WorthNorth  South  


Map Cover
1958 Houston, Humble OilLegend
This map shows the planned alignments of many freeways in Houston, including Loop 610, US 59 Southwest Freeway, and Interstate 10.
Central HoustonLarge  
West HoustonLarge  This view shows the planned alignment of the West Loop.
Southwest HoustonLarge  This view shows the area where I grew up, in Sharpstown. But the streets of my neighborhood were not yet on the map. The planned alignment of the Southwest Freeway is shown.
South HoustonLarge  This view shows the planned alignment of the South Loop and the area that would become the Astrodome complex. Work on the Astrodome was underway around 1962. The original planned aligment of the South Freeway SH 288 is shown.
Southeast HoustonLarge  
Northwest HoustonLarge  There is no indication of the planned Northwest Freeway US 290.
Downtown HoustonLarge  Major highways still came through downtown on the surface streets.
Houston RegionLarge  
Houston Region, west and northwestLarge  


Map Cover
1960 Texas, Humble OilLegend
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  This shows the developing freeway network with interstate designations. However, this map does not differetiate between freeway and non-freeway divided highways.
DFW region, DallasMed  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  
North TexasMed  Large  
HoustonMed  Large  This shows the Southwest Freeway under construction
Southeast TexasMed  Large  
Austin and San AntonioMed  Large  


Map Cover
1960 Texas, PhillipsLegend
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  This map has less detail than the Humble maps
North TexasMed  Large  
HoustonMed  
Southeast TexasMed  Large  


Map Cover
1962 Dallas and Forth Worth, Humble Oil
This is a city street map for both Dallas and Fort Worth.
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  This shows several freeways planned or under construction
DFW region, DallasMed  Large  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  Large  
Central DallasMed  
Downtown Dallas detailMed  
Northwest DallasMed  
North DallasMed  
Northeast DallasMed  
Downtown Fort WorthMed  
Central and east Fort WorthMed  
Southeast Fort WorthMed  
Southwest Fort WorthMed  


Map Cover
1965 EncoLegend
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  
DFW region, DallasMed  Large  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  Large  
North TexasMed  Large  This map shows the rapid progress on rural Interstate highway construction surrounding DFW
HoustonMed  Large  This shows substantial progress on Houston's freeways
Southeast TexasMed  Very little of I-10 west of Houston was complete as of 1965.
San AntonioMed  


Map Cover
1965 United States Interstate System, Esso
As of Spring 1965 the Interstate Highway System was approximately 50% complete.
TexasMed  This shows the status of Interstates in Texas
Arizona, New MexicoMed  
California, NevadaMed  
Colorado, UtahMed  
Pacific NorthwestMed  
Louisiana, MS, AlabamaMed  
Georgia, Florida, SCMed  
Mid Atlantic, PennsylvaniaMed  
New York and New EnglandMed  
Ohio, Indiana, MichiganMed  
Illinios, WI, MI, IA, MOMed  
Kentucky, TN, ARMed  
Montana, WY, ND, SDMed  


Map Cover
1967 Texas, Sunray DX OilLegend
Dallas Fort WorthMed  
North TexasMed  Large  This shows I-20 east of Dallas complete to the Louisiana border except for a short section near Longview. The section near Longview was completed and dedicated on May 6, 1967.
I-45, Dallas to HoustonMed  This shows a large gap remaining between Madisonville and Richland. The gap was completely closed in October 1971.
HoustonMed  The core freeway system is substantially complete.
Southeast TexasMed  I-10 west of Houston is complete to near Weimar
San AntonioMed  


Map Cover
1968 Dallas, Mobil
By the late 1960s, many oil company map covers were becoming very plain. Of course, by the early 1970s most oil companies stopped providing free highway maps.
Central DallasLarge  
Downtown DallasLarge  This shows all downtown freeways complete except I-45 and Spur 366 (Woodall Rodgers Freeway)
North DallasLarge  I-635 (LBJ Freeway) west of Central expressway opened in 1967, and the Dallas North tollway opened in 1968.
IrvingLarge  This shows the future location of Texas stadium
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  This map accurately shows the status of freeways in 1968.
DFW region, DallasMed  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  


Map Cover
1968 Texas, PhillipsLegend
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  
DFW region, DallasMed  Large  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  Large  
North TexasMed  Only a few gaps remain in the north Texas interstate system
HoustonMed  Large  This map shows recommended routes to NASA and the Astrodome
Southeast TexasMed  
San AntonioMed  


Map Cover
1970 Texas, Arco
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  This map shows the Greater Southwest Airport just south of present-day DFW.
DFW region, DallasMed  Large  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  Large  
North TexasMed  The gaps in rural interstates continue to shrink
Houston CentralMed  Large  This map shows the planned route of the entire Beltway 8 Loop. It also shows the planned southward extension of the West Loop, which was later cancelled and subsequently reinstated as the Fort Bend Parkway toll road. In northeast Houston, the planned route of the US 90 Crosby Freeway is shown. That freeway inside BW 8 began construction in 2006 and remains under construction in 2008.
Houston regionMed  Large  This includes the Galveston Bay areas
Southeast TexasMed  
San AntonioMed  


Map Cover
1972 Houston
This 1972 Houston map was issued by the Houston Chamber of Commerce, which explains the "City of Tomorrow" designation
Central HoustonLarge  This shows I-10 on the north side of downtown under construction. It opened on May 17, 1972. This map does not show any work in progress on the missing link of US 59, which was just getting started in 1972.
Houston regionMed  Large  


Map Cover
1973 Texas, Exxon
The great freeway-building binge of the 1960s was over, but there were still plenty of missing links and unbuilt freeways that would need to wait for funding in an era of greatly diminished resources for highway construction. As highway construction slowed, my observation is that map companies updated their maps less frequently and therefore maps were more likely to have errors or be out-of-date. However, this 1973 Exxon map is quite accurate.
Dallas-Fort WorthMed  Large  The freeway systems of Dallas and Fort Worth are substantially complete, but the mid-cities are is still largely devoid of freeways and would be the focus of efforts in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
DFW region, DallasMed  Large  
DFW region, Fort WorthMed  Large  
Central TexasMed  This view shows the main population center of Texas and shows all interstates completed except for a section of I-20 west of Fort Worth. I-45 between Dallas and Houston was completed in 1971. The last section of I-10 between Houston and San Antonio, from Waelder to TX 304, was completed in March 1972.
HoustonMed  Large  
San AntonioMed  All central freeways were complete except for US 281 heading north out of downtown.
I-10 West TexasMed  A substantial amount of work remained to be done on I-10 in west Texas. Work continued in the 1970s and into the 1980s, with completion of the final link at Fort Stockton in May 1983.

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