US Highway 20 was designated a federal highway in 1926. For the first
half of the 20th century, it was the most important east-west road
across northern Iowa, extending from the Mississippi to the Missouri
River. The road connected 13 counties, four major metropolitan areas,
and many smaller communities along its route. Fortunately, the historic
two-lane road remains almost completely intact and can be driven much as
travelers did in years gone by. Along Iowa's Historic Highway 20
celebrates such a trip, illustrated by more than 200 antique postcards
that show the personality of the road: town and city scenes, rural
vistas, rivers, bridges, and historic sites. Not to be forgotten are the
tourist courts, hotels, diners, and gas stations that made travel
possible.