Can you imagine a time without interstates? The Bankhead Highway Through Arlington Plaque tells the story of an important route that transformed Arlington into the thriving city it is today. This historic marker, placed here in 2011, commemorates a time when the road was the main thoroughfare connecting Dallas and Fort Worth. The Bankhead Highway, named for U.S. Senator John Bankhead, was a transcontinental highway that spanned from Washington, D.C. all the way to San Diego, California. Constructed in the 1920s, the highway played a vital role in the development of the region and brought prosperity to small towns along the route including Arlington, making it easier for people to move around and trade goods. It also significantly boosted tourism as motorists began to explore the country by car. Before the highway, travel by automobiles was difficult and dangerous due to poorly maintained roads and the lack of paved routes. The Bankhead Highway, however, changed everything. The highway paved the way for increased commerce and economic activity in Arlington. The marker reminds us of the historical significance of this route, which, despite its former status as a major arterial road, is no longer as busy as it was due to the development of more modern highways. It’s a reminder of the past and how far we’ve come in terms of road infrastructure.
University of Texas at Dallas
You are standing in front of the heart of the Telecom Corridor. This is a complex of multinational technology companies,