See the country Travel Amtrack Circa 1970

This attractive circa 1970 promotional poster was produced to encourage travel across the United States by rail through Amtrak. With its decorative typography and richly illustrated vignettes, the poster celebrates the romance and convenience of train travel during the early years of America’s national passenger rail system.

The composition centers around the invitation “See the Country”, framing a scenic American landscape. Surrounding illustrations highlight different travel experiences offered by Amtrak: modern high-speed trains, cross-country journeys, and leisure activities accessible by rail. Among the featured services are the Amfleet passenger cars and the Turboliner, both symbols of the technological optimism associated with rail travel during the era.

Founded in 1971, Amtrak was created to preserve and modernize intercity passenger rail services in the United States. During the mid-twentieth century, increasing automobile ownership and the expansion of commercial aviation had led to a dramatic decline in rail travel. The establishment of Amtrak marked a national effort to revitalize train transportation and maintain a vital network connecting major cities and scenic regions across the country.

This poster reflects the marketing strategies of the time, emphasizing the experience of discovery and the pleasure of exploring diverse American landscapes. By promoting rail passes and leisure travel packages, Amtrak aimed to attract both domestic travelers and international visitors eager to see the vast geography of the United States by train.

Visually, the design blends nostalgic decorative motifs with modern transportation imagery. The combination of stylized borders, illustrated landscapes, and sleek trains captures a transitional moment in design—linking the classic tradition of railway posters from the early twentieth century with the modern branding of a new national rail company.

Today, posters such as See the Country – Travel Amtrak remain vivid reminders of the enduring appeal of railway travel and of the renewed optimism that surrounded the rebirth of passenger rail in America during the 1970s.

Original Poster

Railway - Tourism - Transportation - United States

USA Rail Pass - Amfleet - Turboliner - Ski Tours

Good condition, some creases, soiling, and restorations.