Highway 99 Collection

MIGRANT WORKER, 1939. Migrant cotton picker, photographed along Highway 99 between Tulare and Fresno, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, 1939

DROUGHT REFUGEES, 1937. A destitute Missouri family of five with no money, a sick baby, and a broken down automobile alongside U.S. Highway 99 in San Joaquin County, California

DROUGHT REFUGEE, 1936. Drought refugees traveling on U. S. Highway 99 between Bakersfield and Famoso, California
DROUGHT REFUGEE, 1936. Drought refugees traveling on U.S. Highway 99 between Bakersfield and Famoso, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, 1936

MIGRANT FARMER, 1935. A migrant family from Texas traveling to Oregon through California on U.S. Highway 99. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, March 1935

SERVICE STATION, 1939. Road signs at a service station on U. S. Highway 99 in Josephine County
SERVICE STATION, 1939. Road signs at a service station on U.S. Highway 99 in Josephine County, Oregon. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, August 1939

RURAL HIGHWAY, 1939. Migrant workers traveling on U. S. Highway 99 between Imperial
RURAL HIGHWAY, 1939. Migrant workers traveling on U.S. Highway 99 between Imperial and San Joaquin Valleys in Kern County, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

HIGHWAY BILLBOARD, 1937. National billboard advertising campaign sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers on U.S. Highway 99 in California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, March 1937

HOMELESS FAMILY, 1939. Family of migrant workers from Phoenix, Arizona, walking along U.S. Highway 99 toward San Diego, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

MIGRANT FAMILY, 1939. Family of migrant workers from Phoenix, Arizona, walking along U.S. Highway 99 toward San Diego, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

BILLBOARD CAMP, 1938. Three families camped behind a Southern Pacific Railway billboard on U. S
BILLBOARD CAMP, 1938. Three families camped behind a Southern Pacific Railway billboard on U.S. Highway 99 in California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, 1938

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"Highway 99: A Journey Through Desperation and Hope" In the midst of the Great Depression, Highway 99 became a lifeline for countless individuals seeking solace from their troubled lives. This iconic road, stretching through California's heartland, witnessed stories of struggle and resilience that defined an era. Along its dusty path in 1939, a migrant cotton picker was captured by Dorothea Lange's lens. We see the weariness etched on his face as he trudges along this artery of migration between Tulare County. He represents the thousands who left their homes behind in search of livelihoods during those turbulent times. The devastating effects of drought were also felt keenly along Highway 99. In 1937, a destitute Missouri family with no money found themselves stranded here with a sick baby. They joined the ranks of drought refugees desperately hoping for relief amidst barren landscapes. A year earlier, another photograph by Lange depicted drought refugees traveling between Bakersfield and Famoso. These weary souls embarked on an arduous journey towards uncertain futures but clung to hope as they traversed this highway. Migrant families from Texas sought refuge in Oregon via California's highways during these trying years. Their faces tell tales of determination mixed with trepidation as they treaded upon Highway 99—a symbol of both hardship and opportunity. Service stations dotted along this route provided brief respite for travelers—road signs guiding them forward or offering glimpses into distant possibilities. Josephine County witnessed such scenes in 1939 when weary souls paused at one such station on U. S. Highway 99. Billboards loomed large over this rural highway—an ironic juxtaposition against poverty-stricken migrants passing beneath them daily. One such billboard campaign aimed to raise awareness about their plight—a reminder that even amidst desperation, voices could be heard if only we chose to listen.