Between July and September 1954, American photographer Berenice Abbott traveled along Route 1, stretching from Maine to Florida, to create a realistic portrait of American life through its landscapes, communities, and architecture, while highlighting the growing impact of the automobile on the territory. Although conceived as a photobook, this ambitious project was never published.
From 2016 to 2024, Anna Fox and Karen Knorr retraced Abbott’s journey, extending her survey. They documented the now less-traveled Route 1, using various tools to capture the cultural, social, and political conditions of a country deeply marked by the Trump presidency and persistent inequalities. Their series pays tribute to Abbott’s unfinished work while offering a fresh and vivid look at the American scene today.