Mid 20th Century “Washington/ Go by Train/ Pennsylvania Railroad” Vintage Travel Poster

This is a vintage travel poster, printed for the Pennsylvania Railroad, by Einson-Freeman Co., New York. The poster depicts the iconic United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The text “Washington” appears at the top of the poster in yellow. The poster urges viewers to “Go by Train, Pennsylvania Railroad” at the bottom of the poster.

The Pennsylvania Railroad was founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the “Pennsy,” the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PRR was the largest railroad in the U.S. for the entire first half of the twentieth century, and was an extremely passenger-oriented railroad. Train travel allowed Americans the ability to leave their towns, head into a city, or escape from it as needed. Finally the general public could entertain the notion of vacations, via affordable weekend train escapes.

During this boom in train travel, countless posters were created to highlight the historic, cultural, and natural beauty of each destination. Often bright and exciting, these graphic posters would feature landmarks and key tourist spots, emphasizing the myriad of new places to explore. In this poster, viewers are encouraged to travel by train to visit the Capitol building, in Washington, D.C. This poster flaunts the building’s striking architecture, bathed in golden afternoon light.

CONDITION:
Good condition, with very vibrant colors. Paper is healthy, save minor tears, creases, and abrasions in corners and a small loss in the lower right corner. Poster dimensions: 40 1/2” H x 25” W.

This poster has been archivally framed in a custom-built black and gold frame, with UV Plexiglas and acid-free back mats and spacers. Framed Dimensions: 42 1/2”H x 26 1/2”W x 2”D.