c.1932 Visit The Pacific Northwest Wonderland Travel by Train Willmarths

Date: c.1932
Artist: Willmarth, William and Kenneth            
Size (in): 41.25” x 27” 
Size (cm): 105 x 69
Condition: B+
Linen backed: Yes

This vintage original and rare poster by The Willmarths is one of about a dozen posters that were created as part of the “Travel by Train” advertising promotional campaign organized by a coalition of American railroads in the 1930s.  The “Travel by Train” advertising promotional campaign was a cooperative effort by American railroads to entice passenger traffic in the face of increasing competition from automobile travel.  This poster promotes the Pacific Northwest as a travel destination and features the stylized image of a man and woman looking out over a spectacular mountain gorge.  Giant Redwoods frame the scene with a modern city seen below and ancient snow covered mountain peaks above. The image area is bracketed by text that reads:

Visit the Pacific Northwest wonderland… Travel by Train 

The Willmarths were graphic design team of two brothers, Kenneth and William Willmarth.  Based in Omaha, Nebraska the two brothers created several beautiful travel posters for their hometown based Union Pacific Railroad and that railroad’s WWII era Keep ‘Em Rolling campaign.   

The Willmarth brothers signed the work they did together as “The Willmarths” as seen in print on this poster in the lower right corner of the image area.   The lower margin shows the printer of this poster as the Newman Monroe Company of Chicago.   This vintage original poster has been professionally backed to linen with some expert touch up as needed including mitigation to some fold line wear, slight creases in the image area and repair to a small notch on the upper margin.   The original colors are strongly retained and the poster displays beautifully.  Overall condition is very good.  Interested buyers are welcome to contact us for photos of the poster prior to linen backing.