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AARP LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Older Adults Recall Life Before the Highway

When the interstate highway system was created in the mid-20th century, the routes isolated or destroyed urban neighborhoods nationwide, particularly ones with predominantly Black or poor populations. Seven people who lived in such places share their memories and observations.

Archival images representing the 6 cities featured in the Before the Highways package

Introduction

Decades of Highway Construction and Community Destruction

When America’s interstate highway system was created in the mid-20th century, the routes bulldozed through thousands of homes, businesses and communities, isolating or destroying urban neighborhoods nationwide, particularly ones with predominantly Black or poor populations

The impact of those losses continues to this day.

Seven people who lived in such places share their memories and observations.

Find this page again: AARP.org/BeforeTheHighway

Memories and More

3 images showing St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch as well as old photos of his relatives

Mayor Ken Welch

St. Petersburg, Florida

5 past and present images of Rondo resident and advocate Martin Anderson

Marvin Roger Anderson

Saint Paul, Minnesota

4 photos showing David Everett and the Lewis Street Center

David Everett

Rochester, New York

5 images showing scenes of Rochester, New York, before and after the highway construction

Martin Pedraza

Rochester, New York

4 past and present photographs of Columbus, Ohio, resident Shirley Mixon

Shirley Smith Mixon

Columbus, Ohio

5 photos showing Chattanooga resident and advocate Moses Freeman

Moses Freeman

Chattanooga, Tennessee

2 photos of Rose Childress

Rose Childress

Houston, Texas

A historical map of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways

Learn More

Highways in Other Cities

The article package "Before the Highways" is a Platinum Winner of the 2023 Hermes Creative Awards

Awards and Recognition

Wins for 'Before the Highway'

EDITOR: Melissa Stanton | WRITERS: Jimmie Briggs, Reina Sims | COPY EDITOR: Don Armstrong | CONTRIBUTORS: Kathleen Benedetti-Fisher, Laura Cantwell, Tracy Matthews, Mandla Moyo, Martin Penny, Shondra Wygal | Published February 2023