Interstate 80 is a major transcontinental corridor connecting California and New York City. From the city of San Francisco to a few miles west of the Hudson River in northern New Jersey, Interstate 80 traverses various terrain and states over nearly 3000 miles.  Its highest point is located at Sherman Hill Summit in Wyoming between Laramie and Cheyenne at an elevation of 8640 feet.

In California, Interstate 80 is a primary route over the Sierra Nevada.  For nearly 100 miles, this roadway transects the range.  This “On the Road” exhibit will examine the locations from Rocklin to Truckee, which represents the majority of the route over the Sierra Nevada.

Construction on Interstate 80 in California began in 1956, following the signing of the Interstate Highway Act which was passed during the Eisenhower Administration.  The highway was not completed until 1964.  Much of the work in the 1960s was in the Sierra Nevada.  Constant maintenance and improvements characterize the route today.

Interstate 80 is located on or closely parallels historic road systems, including emigrant trails from the 19th century, the transcontinental Lincoln Highway of the early 20th century, and U.S. Highway 40, which was utilized from the 1920s until the 1950s.