Driving Through Time - The Digital Blue Ridge Parkway
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About this Item
Title | Mission 66 sign |
Date | August 22, 1958 |
Description | Photograph shows two men and an automobile next to a sign indicating "This is a Mission 66 project, U. S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service" with construction equipment in the background in section 2X of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Taken by Bill Gully of the North Carolina Conservation Department and National Park Service Superintendent Sam P. Weems on August 22, 1958. |
Commentary | The Mission 66 program was a ten-year plan of vastly increased funding and development aimed at resurrecting and dramatically expanding the nation’s deteriorating park infrastructure in time for the National Park Service's fiftieth anniversary in 1966. Costing close to $1 billion by its conclusion, Mission 66 set about to upgrade parks’ physical facilities to provide “enjoyment without impairment” for the huge influx of visitors: new roads, trails, parking areas, campgrounds, and water, sewer, and power systems; rehabilitated historic structures; and new park buildings including many visitor centers. |
Location |
Location Name: Section 2X Parkway Milepost: None
Latitude: 35.460694
Longitude: -83.121806 |
Creator Individuals |
Bill Gully
Sam P. Weems |
Creator Organization | N.C. Conserv. Dept. |
Tags |
Automobiles
Construction Construction equipment Mission 66 People Photographs Signs and signboards Workers |
Credit | Courtesy National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway |