The postcard became mass produced and
widely available concurrently with the early development of the
architectural profession in the United States, during the 1880s-1900s.
Freed by the construction of railroad networks and the development
of faster steamships, once-isolated Americans could become tourists,
traversing great distances quickly and safely. Eager to experience
in three dimensions the great landmarks of the past and present,
architects began to travel widely, making pilgrimages especially
to Europe. The continental tradition of the "Grand Tour" became
increasingly common for the American architecture student after
1900, as a crucial finishing step in the educational process.
Travel lent a young architect cachet and credibility, cosmopolitan
experience crucial to convincing potential clients of his sophistication
and competence. Like any other tourist, postcards functioned for
architects as pleasant souvenirs of vacations passed; but they
also served as important sources of professional information --
inexpensive but vivid documents of a building's, site, layout,
and style.