If you know me at all, you know that I love paper maps. For me, they have a soul of their own. I love paper road maps, paper trail maps, and, of course, paper sectional aeronautical charts.

When I am feeling the itch to travel, hike, fly, or just explore the world, I dig out paper maps and enjoy a little adventure of imagination.

I came across an unusual maps not long ago, an “Official State Highway Map” from April 1935.

The map is yellowed and starting to crumble, but it still has a lot to offer. 90 years ago, our topography and the way we lived are very different from today.

The biggest difference is the Interstate Highway System (originally the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways) didn’t exist in 1935. Many of the numbered State highways we know today are still around, but most of the highways leading in and out of Ada are gravel, not paved. In fact, the only paved road in and out of town was State Highway 48, which we now know as State 99/U.S. 377. The roads leading in and out of Stratford aren’t even gravel. This map shows them as dirt roads.

It’s easy to be amazed by this, but the truth is, we didn’t travel as much back then.

Most map usage today is via phone apps, but one of my happy places is to get out my paper maps, and start dreaming about where I want to go.