The American west was depicted as the perfect place to vacation with the whole family.

This exhibit is, in no way, an exhaustive portrayal of American outdoor recreation during the Cold-War era but it is a small glimpse into how the middle-class family used this emerging cultural phenomenon as a tool to reinforce family bonds.

As the viewer observes this showcase there are many things to be learned and seen:

The American wilderness served as a place of refuge for families that were juggling the responsibilities of home, school and work. The social pressures of suburbia as well as the greater cultural tensions could be left behind and exchanged for an outdoor adventure.

Many of those adventures were had by fathers and sons as they went out to hunt and fish. The ultra-masculinization of these activities further reinforced existing gender roles.

National Park visitation grew like never before as the parks themselves made concerted efforts to improve the visitor experience.

Companies jumped at the chance to explore a new market and make products outdoorsmen would find useful.

The recent advent of off-road vehicles like the Jeep made a perfect environment for people to go on highland adventures wherever they desired.

 The new highway system and increased interest in the outdoors led to the camper-trailer movement that gained a lot of traction in the American west as it allowed families to spend a lot of time together on a budget.

Truly the American outdoors served as the home away from home for a growing number of families in the 1960s and 70s.