Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway – IA
The Lincoln Highway was the first improved transcontinental road in the nation, traveling from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California. The route travels through 13 states and is a National Scenic Byway in the states of Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. In western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana it is a state byway. The route continues today in New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California but is not a named byway. Carl Fisher, the owner of the Prest-o-lite (headlight) Company envisioned a “Coast-to-Coast Rock Highway.” As he sold almost all the headlights required by Detroit’s automakers, he was well-connected and presented his idea at a dinner party in 1912. In 1913, the Lincoln Highway Association was formed to designate the route across the nation, fundraise, and promote the road. Falling short of funds to pave the entire route, “seedling” miles in each state were poured to show what a good road would look like in hopes that the LHA’s grass-roots organization would lead to local efforts for improvements. The road was named as a memorial to President Abraham Lincoln, as the memorial in Washington, D.C. had not yet been built. This historic road allowed Americans and visitors to see the country as never before. It has been said that this road created the family vacation! More from National Scenic Byway Foundation →
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