Bankhead Highway AKA US Highways 67 and 80

In its earliest incarnation, it was known as The Bankhead Highway; prior to it’s inclusion in the national highway system, it was known as Texas Highway 1. It is known as one of the earliest transcontinental highways in the United States. With one end in Washington, D.C. and the other end in San Diego, CA passing through several states, including Texas. The only part of the route we are interested in, here, is its path through Texas.

Originally, The Bankhead Highway went through Texas on Texas Highway 1, From Texarkana to El Paso. When the US highway system came into being portions were designated as US Highway 67 and other portions were designated as US Highway 80. When the interstate system came into being, and specifically I 30 to I 20, I 20 to I 10 and I 10 to the Texas State Line swallowed many of the original paths of the highway as well as US Highways 67 and 80.

The Bankhead Highway dates back to 1917. Over the years, it was realigned several times due to new technology and paths taken. After each realignment a new area of highway or even a new town would see traffic. Subsequently, new businesses would sprout to take care of motorists passing through along the road.

Here are just a few of the images from the Highway in East Texas.

  • US67_Bankhead_Highway_Business_Sign_Mount_Vernon_Texas
    US67 Bankhead Highway Business Sign Mount Vernon, Texas
  • US67_Bankhead_Highway_Neon_Church_Sign_Sulphur_Springs_Texas
    US67 Bankhead Highway Neon Church Sign Sulphur Springs, Texas
  • US67_1936_Bankhead_Highway_Rest_Area_Titus_County_TX
    US67 1936 Bankhead Highway Rest Area Titus County, TX

And here is the link to our static page, including more images, many more: https://www.texas-travelers.com/historic-texas-highways/bankhead-highway-texas/

The basic path of the bankhead highway, today, through Texas is simple. From Texarkana Interstate 30 to Interstate 20 to Interstate 10 ending in Elpaso. Along this route there are many original paths that remain, today. It’s not our intention to map out the routes that remain, those exist. Our intention is to photographically document some of the old artifacts along the way that still exist. For route information please see links, below.

Links to more information about The Bankhead Highway

Texas Historical Commission has a really good map of the old highway through various alignments broken into sections.

Texas Time Travel very nice page and map showing some of the attractions to see along the road.

More information about Texas’ Historic Highways