This film shows the exhibit known as OUR AMERICAN CROSSROADS in operation. Originally created in 1955 for the General Motors Parade of Progress, this exhibit still exists and is maintained by GM. It was built by the H.B. Stubbs company and was on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry until 2001 when it was removed by GM. The Our American Crossroads display is an animated diorama of American life. It depicts lifestyles before and after the introduction of the automobile and a futuristic look years down the road. Starting with (as the narrator says) “a sleepy, rural crossroad consisting of muddy roads, a rickety wooden bridge and a few scattered farm houses, you see a simple story of American growth and development unfold before your eyes. Beginning with the first appearance of a horseless carriage – this ever-changing diorama dramatically traces the impact of the automobile on the isolated community. The transformation from a muddy crossroad to a modern bustling community, vividly illustrates the important role played by the automobile in the rapid growth of America. We have progressed from a country of isolated rural communities and scattered cities – to an integrated land connected by a great network of roads and highways … and we have come this far in only sixty years.

We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com