Today we decided to start our exploration of the historic Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway across the USA, commissioned in 1913 with an exploration of the western terminus of this route. This is located in Lincoln Park at Land's End in San Francisco. The marker for the western terminus is located near the bus stop at the Legion of Honor building. Legion of Honor
The marker is located just behind and to the right of the bus stop. There is a display of the Lincoln Highway historical photos.
We wanted to start in San Francisco so that we did not have to face bad traffic on our day of estimated departure from Santa Cruz, which may be June 12, 2013. The Lincoln Highway in San Francisco started at the Ferry Terminal on the Embarcadero where cars were ferried from Oakland to SFO. Cars are no longer placed on the ferries so we will have to forego being purists in this aspect of the journey and pick up the highway on the Oakland side of the bay.
Our first day will carry us to Livermore, CA and then across the Altemont Pass to the southern Route around Lake Tahoe to Carson City Nevada. There was a northern route across Donner Pass to Reno, NV, but that came later in time. We are choosing the southern route mostly because we rarely travel those roads.
We are excited to attempt to recreate this transcontinental journey across the first transcontinental route in the USA as this is the 100th anniversary of this road. It will not be a pure journey as the original road no longer exists in many places or it has been incorporated into various paved highways via the passage of time or parts exist on private lands. Still, this journey will give Earline and me the opportunity to experience the USA in a less hectic manner than by traveling the Interstate Highways.
Stay tuned for more Lincoln Highway news.
