The Lure and History of the Great American Road Trip

SALEM — Pack a few bags, stuff a picnic basket and gas up the car. School’s out and America calls! Road trips are as American as … well … apple pie. This country’s interstate highway system makes possible, to this day, a wanderlust Americans indulge in with unparalleled enthusiasm. Americans love their cars, their highways, their great expanses and all the natural wonders. Even better, it’s a family affair. Revel in stories of the Great American Road Trip with Dan McNichol, bestselling author and award-winning journalist. He will present a stirring tale of travel through America taken in his 1949 Hudson. McNichol will speak at The House of the Seven Gables on Wednesday, June 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Those arriving at 5:30 will have a chance to inspect several antique and vintage cars gathered for the occasion by the North Shore Old Car Club. McNichol experienced America from an ingenious network of interstate roadways. At the same time, he gathered material for his upcoming book on American road trips. He saw for himself how roads quickly gave rise to motels, diners, historical markers and tourist attractions, all of which sprouted like seedlings in the fertile ground just off the soft shoulders of America. With a front row seat to the splendors of America and its uniquely regionalized culture, McNichol gathered stories like roadside bouquets. Keenly observant and author of several books on the subject, McNichol’s stories aren’t just fun, they’re filled with his investigations into American culture and history. To reserve a spot for this presentation, those interested may visit https://store.7gables.org/Events.aspx; email jarrison@7gables.org; or call 978-306-7003. This is the fourth lecture in the Seven Lectures at Seven Gables series. The 2019 exhibit, “Pop! Goes The Gables” explores how Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel and the 1668 mansion have influenced pop culture over the centuries. The lecture series complements the many themes explored in that exhibition. About Dan McNichol McNichol writes about massive engineering projects like the Big Dig. For decades he has been a national media commentator on headline stories having to do with America’s infrastructure. McNichol collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning business columnist James Stewart on the New York Times front-page story, “Trump-Sized Idea for a New President: Build Stuff.” A former White House appointee, McNichol advised the president on transportation policy. McNichol has worked in official capacities on the nation’s largest infrastructure projects including California’s high-speed rail project, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Replacement Project and the Big Dig in Boston. Website https://7gables.org/event/the-great-american-road-trip/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/2428265747214818/