The kids won’t understand, but in the dark ages, before GPS and cellphones, motorists agonized over floppy foldable maps and dubious directions given by gas station attendants. Vacationing could feel like charting a course through the Strait of Gibraltar, or rafting down the Mississippi with Huck Finn. That’s where the Texas Travel Information Centers, the first of which opened in 1936, come in. Travel counselors are on standby at 12 centers across the state to provide current information on routes, local events, and road conditions. This Texas Highways photo, taken in 1969 by Jack Lewis, shows travel counselor Reva Keltner helping visitors inside the Gainesville Travel Information Center. Though today’s technology has made it easier for Texans to find their way, the centers still provide service with a smile to 1.5 million customers annually.
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