| . |
| . |
| . |
A Crook County Historical Moment
| Color Coded Roads Guided Drivers in Pioneer Days |
Early automobile travel in Central
Oregon was a true adventure as
there was a maze of crossing
roads and no traffic signs to
identify routes All roads were
narrow and rutted so it was hard
to determine which road was a
main road. Often motorists would
find themselves wandering to an
isolated ranch or a patch of thick
timber at the end of one of the
primitive roads. Innovative local
groups established a system of
color coding roads with bands of
paint to designate main travel
routes.
Oregon was a true adventure as
there was a maze of crossing
roads and no traffic signs to
identify routes All roads were
narrow and rutted so it was hard
to determine which road was a
main road. Often motorists would
find themselves wandering to an
isolated ranch or a patch of thick
timber at the end of one of the
primitive roads. Innovative local
groups established a system of
color coding roads with bands of
paint to designate main travel
routes.
The main road through Central Oregon was the “White and Blue” road and the colors were painted on
telephone poles, fence posts and trees. The commercial club organizations (forerunners of Chambers
of Commerce) of Bend, Redmond and Prineville undertook the initial painting effort.
Each highway was assigned its own particular color and early maps were printed to identify the
destination of the color coded roads. An early motorist visiting Central Oregon in 1916 noted that “the
White and Blue route indicated by the white and blue paint, leads the traveler easily and unerringly.
Unfortunately the color code scheme only existed in the immediate Central Oregon vicinity and as
traffic moved north, east or west roads became once more complicated to follow. Also it did not take
young pranksters long to alter the color scheme at major intersections which led some motorists to
wander until they discovered another color marker or find assistance from other travelers or
ranchers. It was not uncommon for a wandering motorist to spend the evening as the guest of a
rancher or farmer after having taken the wrong road.
The color coding was used for several years until more modern roads were constructed. Even
today some old juniper trees or rotting fence post have faded paint that once designated the main
traffic routes. Traffic traveled slowly with speeds rarely exceeding 30 miles per hour so painted
objects could be easily identified and followed. It was a simple solution for traffic flow in a time when
travel by automobile was adventurous.
telephone poles, fence posts and trees. The commercial club organizations (forerunners of Chambers
of Commerce) of Bend, Redmond and Prineville undertook the initial painting effort.
Each highway was assigned its own particular color and early maps were printed to identify the
destination of the color coded roads. An early motorist visiting Central Oregon in 1916 noted that “the
White and Blue route indicated by the white and blue paint, leads the traveler easily and unerringly.
Unfortunately the color code scheme only existed in the immediate Central Oregon vicinity and as
traffic moved north, east or west roads became once more complicated to follow. Also it did not take
young pranksters long to alter the color scheme at major intersections which led some motorists to
wander until they discovered another color marker or find assistance from other travelers or
ranchers. It was not uncommon for a wandering motorist to spend the evening as the guest of a
rancher or farmer after having taken the wrong road.
The color coding was used for several years until more modern roads were constructed. Even
today some old juniper trees or rotting fence post have faded paint that once designated the main
traffic routes. Traffic traveled slowly with speeds rarely exceeding 30 miles per hour so painted
objects could be easily identified and followed. It was a simple solution for traffic flow in a time when
travel by automobile was adventurous.
| . |
A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
See the drop
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
Use the drop down menu for more local stories of Prineville's colorful past.
