Archive for the ‘transportation’ Category
March 23, 2009
The Rawlins Daily Times reports (via The Seattle Times) that the post trader’s house at Fort Fred Steele Historic Site has been saved from its crumbling state and rehabbed. The fort, along the Lincoln Highway and I-80 about 12 miles east of Rawlins, Wyoming, was built in 1868 to guard against Indian attacks and used through 1886. A Salt Lake City firm stabilized the crumbling concrete of the house with a glasslike liquid that is absorbed and prevents concrete from crumbling. The strengthened walls are joined by a new roof, walls, hardwood floor, windows, and heat. Also known as the Chatterton House, the post trader’s house is being readied as an interpretive center. Fort Steele reopens for the summer May 1. Here are a couple videos about the site, one short but pretty, the other with some locals interviewed.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
In 1892, the graves of the soldiers and their dependents at Fort Steele were moved to Fort McPherson National Cemetery — along the Gothenburg Stairstep portion of the Lincoln Highway near Maxwell, Nebraska.
Tags:Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Fort Steele WY, frontier fort, Gothenburg NE, I-80, Lincoln Highway, Rawlins WY, rehab of old building, WY
Posted in film/video, highways, history, Lincoln Highway, transportation, travel | Leave a Comment »
March 18, 2009
LHA director Mindy Crawford alerts us that the concrete Lincoln Highway marker at Ogontz and E. Market Street in York, Pennsylvania, was hit by a car on February 23. “One of our members has been trying to track down where it went. The only information he could get was from the police and the water company who both said it was laying there when they left! It is, of course, gone now.”
If you have any information, please contact Mindy, who is also Executive Director Preservation Pennsylvania, at mcrawford@preservationpa.org or (717) 880-6275. Also keep watch at regional antique shops and on eBay. The posts, which have a directional arrow on the side, weere planted in 1928 to mark and commemorate the Lincoln Highway.
Tags:1928, concrete post, highway history, Lincoln Highway, Market Street York PA, missing historic marker, PA, York PA
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, signs, transportation | Leave a Comment »
March 17, 2009
California LHA newsletter editor Gary Kinst writes with an intriguing story and photo. “Wondering how many Lincoln Highway collectors have come across one of these signs? I would guess that there weren’t more than 13 at anyone time. I discovered this sign at a Gas Bash (petroleum collectors swap meet) in Escalon, California. After returning home I searched the internet for Lincoln Highway State Consul signs and came upon the exact same sign that had been sold at auction in Las Vegas last month.”
The original Lincoln Highway Association used a system of consuls to monitor the road for improvements, problems, etc., at state, county, and local levels. Tell us if you know more about these signs and if you’ve ever seen one.
Tags:California, Gas Bash, highway history, historic markers, Las Vegas auction, Lincoln Highway, petroliana, procelain enameled sign, road signs
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, signs, transportation | 1 Comment »
March 16, 2009
Dennis Crowley, who is walking the coast-to-coast Lincoln Highway in portions, has refined his schedule for this fall. Click HERE for the itinerary from Sacramento, California, to Ely, Nevada. He’s also used the LHA DeLorme-based mapping system chart his trip, broken into 3 parts:
mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=4cbwtpmf
mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=k3d1sv1f
mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=z7dv4jmd
The numbers coordinate with the walking days.
Tags:highway walking journey, historic highway, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, walking across America, walking for a purpose
Posted in highways, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, transportation | Leave a Comment »
March 9, 2009
The re-creation of the 1919 trip across the country of the U.S. Army Transcontinental Motor Convoy is making the news as the event approaches. Papers such as the Clinton, Iowa, Herald are reporting lately on the convoy’s passing through their areas. The original convoy is perhaps best remembered today for including young Dwight Eisenhower.
Sponsored by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, up to 150 military vehicles will retrace the convoy’s itinerary, which followed the Lincoln Highway for most of its route west of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This 26-day convoy will depart from Washington D.C. on June 13 and arrive in San Francisco on July 8, crossing all or part of 11 states.
For more information visit www.mvpa.org and click the 2009 Convoy button on the left. Click HERE for the complete schedule of stops.
Also, the new Indiana LHA brochure includes not only a map of the Lincoln Highway but a description and map of the convoy trip. Visit www.indianalincolnhighway.com to request one.
Tags:1919, Eisenhower, highway history, historic military, Lincoln Highway, military convoy, recreating history
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, transportation | 2 Comments »
March 5, 2009
Roadside artists, authors, and photographers are wanted for the 2009 Lincoln Highway Association Conference in South Bend, Indiana, June 15-20, 2009. A reception will offer an easily accessible place for the public and LHA members to meet those who create the works. Imagery and books are especially encouraged that relate to the Lincoln and Dixie highways.
The conference will feature an author and artist public reception on Thursday, June 18, at the South Bend Century Center, where products will be for sale. Authors can reserve a table to display and sell books but there’s limited space to display artwork and photos in the vendor room and reception area at the host hotel Holiday Inn.
Click HERE for the entry form and look for updates at at www.indianalincolnhighway.com/. The above image is by Mary Ann Michna.
Tags:artist reception, author reception, highway conference, historic highway, Indiana, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, South Bend IN
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, transportation, travel | Leave a Comment »
March 4, 2009
Last summer, some bicycle enthusiasts decided to retrace the route of the Pony Express from Sacramento, California, to St. Josephs, Missouri. Their particular sport is randonneuring — long-distance, unsupported, non-competitive endurance cycling. Some of their travels naturally followed the Lincoln Highway. Their story was just published in American Randonneur or you can read a shortened version of their adventures HERE.
LH locales include Folsom, Pollack Pines, Carson Ciy, Lahontan Reservoir, US 50 across Nevada (including Middlegate, Ausstin, Eureka, and Ely), SLC, Coalville, Evanston, Ogallala, North Platte, and Kearney. You can tell from gaps in the list that they often are NOT on the LH. Above is one of their bikes at Rosevear’s Ranch, a former Overland Stage station in Nevada.
One adventure they write about took place between Austin and Eureka:
We climbed up the switch backs that led us out of town and then climbed three more mountain passes before coming to Devil’s Gate at dusk. Danny was out ahead of me when he started yelling. I soon saw what looked like a long piece of wood on the road. As I got close, it all of a sudden balled up and I let out a scream and swerved to the other side of the road. I had no idea what kind of snake it was, but it was big! This experience taught us that snakes started crawling out at night to enjoy the heat of the pavement. It was a great incentive for us to get off the road before sundown.
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, transportation | Leave a Comment »
February 27, 2009
It’s not Lincoln Highway-centric, but if you like old cars and gas stations you’ll want to watch for FREE the video that accompanies the book I mentioned previously, Fill ’er Up: The Glory Days of Wisconsin Gas Station. The half-hour-long show is on the Wisconsin Public Television web site in 8 segments or can be purchased as a DVD. It’s a fun and informative look at stations, and you don’t need to be from Wisconsin to appreciate the info, the places visited, and the cool films and photos. Click HERE to go to the page of segments plus some related clips such as a look at an 1878 experiment with steam-driven carriages that may have been the world’s first car race. Below is a scene from the video.
Tags:gas stations, highways, Lincoln Highway, video, Wisconsin
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, roadside, transportation, travel | Leave a Comment »
February 26, 2009
As reported here recently, a street sign was dedicated on the Lincoln birthday bicentennial marking the eastern terminus of the Lincoln Highway at Times Square. LHA director Jerry Peppers has been working on getting a permanent marker and was part of the unveiling. Here are some photos from his daughter Amy Peppers that document the unveiling, including the broken string drama.
The sign awaits unveiling with the pull-string secured until it’s ready.
Commissioner of the New York City DOT Janette Sadik-Kahn joins Jerry Peppers to pull off the cover.
But wait! The cover rips and the string pulls off!!
Who you gonna call?
NYC DOT workers to the rescue!
Finally!
Peppers and Sadik-Kahn pose with Tim Tompkins, President of Times Square Alliance.
And Pepper again shows what he’d really like – a marker, perhaps a concrete post, at the intersection.
Tags:highway marker, historic highway, Lincoln Highway, New York City, sign dedication, Times Square
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, transportation | 2 Comments »
February 24, 2009
A new mailer/flyer details plans for the museum building being planned by the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor in western Pennsylvania. The Lincoln Highway Experience will be the largest and most prominent site documenting the Lincoln Highway.
To be located just west of Ligonier, Pa., the Lincoln Highway Experience will tell the story of the highway both in the state and on a national level. Interpretive exhibits will focus on the years 1912-1940 but the emphasis will be on what is still along the corridor, encouraging visitors to get out and drive the road.
The building itself was designed by Venturi Scott Brown Associates, familiar to roadside fans for their pioneering work, including publication of Learning From Las Vegas: The Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form (1972, revised 1977) by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour. The 10,000 s.f interior was handled by Maude Group and Kissiloff Associates and will include two films.
The LHHC has helped secure and administer grants for dozens of regional projects and is now launching its own capital campaign for the Experience. Donors at the $2,500 level will bceome members of The Lincoln Circle, with naming opportunities. The LHHC was designated in 1995 to promote economic development through tourism. Visit www.lhhc.org for more information about the Corridor.
Tags:heritage corridor, highway history, Learning from Las Vegas, Ligonier PA, Lincoln Highway, museum, Road trip, Venturi Scott Brown
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, museum, Road trip, transportation | 5 Comments »
Lincoln Highway News 