August 17, 2006

Today in Automotive History

1909 McNally, of Rand McNally, is born

Andrew McNally III, an executive with Rand McNally & Co., was born in Chicago on this day. Rand McNally & Co. is the oldest map publisher in the country. Aside from atlases, reference guides, and textbooks, Rand McNally also published the first road guide for the automobile. At the turn of the century, many roads were unmarked and hard to follow, but the road map and highway system changed all that.

P.S. - I have actually spent the weekend in the Rand McNally house in Chicago. A friend of mine at college had a friend who was staying with the McNally's during their college term and that friend invited us to stay with them for a weekend. A very big, old house.

Posted by Quality Weenie at August 17, 2006 07:32 AM | TrackBack
Comments

FYI - their online mapping? BEST program on the web. Seriously. Get's even ME where I need to be!!

Posted by: Tammi at August 17, 2006 11:04 AM

That's too cool. I love OLD things...houses, schtuff...

And I go places without a map. Never needed one. I am my own North Star.

Posted by: Rave at August 17, 2006 11:09 AM