An ode to the great American road trip

Some of this century's most celebrated photographers offer their perspectives on the open road

The Open Road
(Image credit: (Stephen Shore, Courtesy of the artist and 303 Gallery, New York))

America's history is tied to the journey. Its European roots are defined by the great distance those first voyagers traveled. The nascent country chugged westward on the steam of the locomotive, and expanded into the terrain's nooks and crannies on a full tank of gas and the promise of the freeway.

Over the centuries, the open road has signified adventure, possibility, and escape, as well as loss, limits, and dead ends. And all along, the photographer has been there, hitching a ride to capture both the mundane and extraordinary moments that define America.

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Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.