Our first and last historical stop for our trip was not actually a historic place in itself, but a monument dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln Highway. This monument sits on the side of the road at a rest stop in Wyoming between Laramie and Cheyenne. We actually passed this on our way east the first day of our trip. On our way back three weeks later, we made sure to stop and take a few pictures. The tall "Lincoln Head," as I like to call it, stands on a high point and is hard to miss.
This Lincoln Monument commemorates the Lincoln Highway, which was the first paved transcontinental highway in the United States. It is also dedicated to Henry Bourne Joy, who is sometimes called the father of the country's modern highway system. He became the first president of the Lincoln Highway Association in 1913. The route of the highway ran from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California. Using this, people could now use their new automobiles to travel cross-country.
The highway became an example of the superiority of roads made out of concrete instead of improved dirt. Improved dirt roads were graded and even lucky to be reinforced with gravel or brick. These improved roads were only located around towns and cities for a few miles. Most of the 2.5 million miles of dirt roads were bumpy and dusty in dry weather and impassible in wet weather. The construction of the Lincoln Highway and other federally funded roads paved the way (no pun intended) to our modern highway system.
Standing at this point, the old highway sits on the crest of the hill seen beyond the Lincoln Monument and the one dedicated to Henry Bourne Joy. This was the summit of the highway, the highest point on the original route. It was the last historical stop on our trip and with that, we headed back to Idaho. This trip was one I won't soon forget, and my next post will contain some of my reflections about it.
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Lincoln Highway and Wyoming Monument
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4 Comments:
Rebecca,
The Lincoln Highway runs right through my city of Canton, Ohio. And only about 30 miles away from here, people can still drive on some original brick pavement on the highway. It's unfortunate that Route 66 gets all the fame, because the Lincoln Highway is coast-to-coast and is much older than Route 66.
Geoff,
That's pretty cool that people can still drive on the original pavement of the highway. I'd like to do that if I make it out to Ohio again. And I agree. It's unfortunate that a lot of people don't know about the Lincoln Highway.
Thanks for the comments!
Thanks for the post; very interesting! I never knew about this highway, though it's possible I even drove on it years ago on a trip out west. Think it's still possible to take the road from NY-CA? I live just off a road in Maryland known as the Old National Road. I believe it was originally laid between Baltimore and Ohio. It winds through many picturesque towns, mountains, and valleys. In fact, many of the Civil War's eastern campaigns saw armies of both sides marching and fighting on and along this road. I love my road - thanks for sharing some about yours!
Dylan,
I'm not sure if you can still drive from NY to CA on it, but as Geoff pointed out, there are still sections around today. I'm sure a lot of it has been replaced by the interstate roads, as far as I know. I'm far from being an expert on this though!
Thanks for the comments and I hope you stop by again!
Rebecca
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