Since the 1930s, the teen years of many Americans have been shaped by the car — getting the license and the keys, sometimes customizing the car and cruising, and even “parking” in it. This was a nearly unique American marker of “coming of age,” defining, in part, how American youth experienced freedom from family, youthful sexuality, and consumer culture. This course will draw on the postwar experience of American youth and explain why the teen car culture has changed in the past few decades. The presentation is drawn from interviews of participants in dozens of old car shows as well as research on the history of American youth in the 20th century. Gary will share images and tell a few stories; participants are encouraged to share car memories.

Instructor: Gary Cross is a distinguished professor emeritus of modern history at Penn State, where he taught for 36 years. He is the author of Machines of Youth: America’s Car Obsession and other books on the recent history of American culture, family, and technology.