*The first Missouri road map, so far as State Highway Commission files reveal, was put out in 1851 by the federal government. Primary consideration was given to steamboat travel.
*The first road map put out by Missouri was in 1918. The map was printed in black and white with no photos.
*25,000 copies of the 1924 map were printed, and the supply was quickly used up. That’s compared to the five million printed this year.
*To cover printing costs, the department sold the early maps to any individual, firm or company at cost, then allowed them to resell the maps for 25 cents to “make a fair profit.”
*There are two versions of the 1939 map. The maps have the same cover, but carry different information on the back.
*The 1942 and 1944 maps have the same cover.
*There was no map printed in 1943 because of World War II.
*The 1966 map caused a bit of a stir because the cover features two women in shorts.
*A special map was printed in 2004 to commemorate the Lewis and Clark bicentennial.