ARTWORK @ Used Car Heaven

Great horned owl perched on a child's hat in the Smokey Mountains. ca. 1939

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 1967

In the 1970s, thumbing a ride was a popular mode of transportation for individuals without access to a vehicle or who were not old enough to drive. By extending a hand with the expectation of receiving a lift from a benevolent stranger, individuals embraced the carefree and exploratory spirit of the decade. While hitchhiking is currently viewed as dangerous, during that time period, it represented the autonomy and reliance that characterized journeys along the open road in the 1970s.

The Diggers performing street theatre with the name “San Francisco Mime Troupe” as seen on the sign, using the art as a platform to spread knowledge about their opposition toward the evils and power of money. 

Photographed by Gene Anthony in 1967

Location: Washington Square Park in San Francisco, CA

The Haight-Ashbury crossroads sign in San Francisco.

Fun fact: This is the most frequently stolen road sign in the U.S. Due to this repeated crime, it has been raised countless times throughout the years to deter it from being stolen.