Have Some Fun On U.S. 41 At The Collier Museum

The Collier Museum at Government Center is proud to present a new temporary exhibition, “From the Great Lakes to the Sunshine State: Exploring the History of U.S. 41.” The exhibit will be on display from Tuesday, September 13, 2022 to Saturday, January 21, 2023. Admission to the exhibition is free.

U.S. 41 has a long history as a bridge between the Midwest and Florida. The highway crosses eight states and runs from Michigan to Miami. Although it has been bypassed by interstates today, it once was a major north/south route that brought tourists south to Florida from places like Milwaukee, Chicago, Nashville, and Atlanta. Business leaders along the route boosted it as “The Boulevard of America” or “the Main Street of Wisconsin.” Here in Collier County, we came to know it as the Tamiami Trail.

“I don’t think many people around here realize that you can head north on 41 and end up on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago,” said Museum Manager, Stephanie Long. “We tend to think of the Tamiami Trail as a local story, but it connects to the broader story of highway building in America and all the other communities that grew up along U.S. 41.” 

U.S. 41 and the United States Numbered Highway System were established in 1926. By the early 1900s, many Americans were eager to explore the country by automobile but often found themselves stuck in the mud on poorly made and poorly marked roads. The “Good Roads” Movement inspired many Auto Trail associations who built roads like the Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway, and Tamiami Trail. The numbered highway system connected these highways, along with state and county roads, to build major routes that could be followed across the country. 

The exhibit explores the origins of automobile highways, the creation of U.S. 41, and the mid-century road trip experience. Visitors to the exhibit will trace the route from the Great Lakes of northern Michigan to sunny south Florida, with stops at famous sites, attractions, and businesses along the way.

The Collier Museum at Government Center is located at 3331 Tamiami Trail East in Naples, Florida. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission to the museum is free. For more information about the museum, please visit colliermuseums.com or call 239-252-8476.