1957
Every decade, it seems, contains a single year that epitomizes its era. The Depression had 1933; the Sixties, 1968. In the Fifties, it was 1957, the year of the pill, Sputnik, Dr. Seuss, Little Rock, and more. Half a century later, U.S. News takes a look back.
In Little Rock, a Matter of Justice
Eisenhower confronts the political and moral crisis of integrating public schools.
L.A., Here They Came
The Brooklyn Dodgers' move to California sparked a migration fed by dreamers seeking great weather and high employment.
Spanning a State, and Setting a Record
The "Mighty Mac" was a singular feat that would bridge the 5-mile gap between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.
Misfits, Lovers, and Murderers
Two midwestern teens go on a killing spree, inspiring films and songs for decades.
Betty Friedan, Feminist Fatale
The author questioned conventional roles with The Feminine Mystique, a book that changed women's lives.
A Shift in the Cold War Balance
With Sputnik, the Soviets open a new frontier and catch America off-guard.
Helvetica: A Typeface for All Time
The strong, straight lines of the font shape corporate logos, government tax forms, and exit signs.
The Edsel, Ford's Flop
Millions of advertising dollars couldn't sell "an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon."
The Man Who Redefined Football
A versatile and gifted athlete, Jim Brown broke barriers on and off the playing field.
The Birth of a Famous Feline
An outrageous cat with a peculiar hat teaches a new generation to read.
Photo credits clockwise from top left: Corbis Bettmann (2); Courtesy Museum of Modern Art, N.Y.; Corbis Bettmann; Henry Barr Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images; Gene Lester--Getty Images; Larry Ford/Corbis; Corbis Bettmann; W. Cody/Corbis; AP;
advertisement
