In July 1988, the FHWA cosponsored a conference called Scenic Byways 88: A National Conference to Map the Future of Americas Scenic Roads and Highways. IN preparation for the conference, the FHWA published Scenic Byways as a guide and reference for participants. It contained the following background information: Since the early 1900s when America came to rely on motorized transportation, the Nation has had increasing examples of outstanding scenic roads and parkways. The first scenic roads did not exist as a result of any organized coordinated program, if a program is defined as a predetermined plan of action or development. In this sense, with a few exceptions, no organized plan of action for scenic roads was adopted in the first half of this century. Rather, these travel corridors were developed in bits and piecesa segment here and a limited route there. It was not until the 1960s that a coordinated national scenic program effort began to evolve.

Website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/scenichistory.cfm