The New Deal, led or imposed (whatever), by FDR during the later years of the Great Depression, included the Federal Writers Project, which itself included the American Guide Series. Each state, and some major cities had a book. They included the history, culture, and demographics of each state, descriptions of the major cities and towns of the state, and also had detailed descriptions of the routes and attractions and randomly interesting items of the major U.S. and state highways through and in each state. (Including such items as beet sugar plants in Colorado open for tours.)
I’ve found these to be fascinating, and in the states such as Colorado and Massachusetts where I am very familiar with the highways, the tour guides are equally interesting.
I always look at one I haven’t seen before, and will reread my favorites. Anyone else like them?