In the spring of 1903, on a whim and a fifty-dollar bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the . In 1903, he and driving partner Sewall K. Crocker became the first people to drive an automobile across the United States. His two brothers, each driving his own automobile, came to help him get going again. It turned out that the dusty alkali flats the travelers encountered would bother Bud's eyes so much (the Vermont had neither a roof nor windshield) that Jackson eventually fitted him with a pair of goggles. It started with an animated chat and a $50 bet over drinks at the University Club in San Francisco 100 years ago and culminated in a bumpy cross- country car trip on rudimentary roads with a bicycle mechanic and a dog wearing goggles riding shotgun. The first family road trip was in 1908. It took five months, and covered more than 10,000 miles. Several noted actors read the lines of various historical figures. Keep in mind that the cars of 1903 were little more than expensive playthings for hobbyists and hadnt really been proven to be worthy of such a bet. They were also given a 108-mile (174km) misdirection by a woman so that she could send them to the spot where her family could see an automobile.[6]. We only made 45 miles in our direct route. 1903 was a big year for the United States- President Teddy Roosevelt sent a wireless radio message across the Atlantic to the King of England, a cable was laid across the Pacific Ocean, completing the circuit and allowing Roosevelt to send the first telegraph around the world, and the Wright brothers made the worlds first airplane flight. You have done everything in the world to make me happy.I shall just tear up the ground until I can be with you. Crocker of Seattle, both of whom are at the Palace ready for the journey. That someone was Horatio Jackson Nelson. No sooner than Jackson had finished the repair however, that they then suffered a gasoline leak which wasted all their available fuel. (5) Both men and the dog were thrown from the car after striking an obstacle. There will be breakdowns and tears and stories to last you through the years so get out there and start exploring! I find it fascinating how similar my own road trip experiences were in some ways to the very first cross-country journey. she drove a Maxwell touring car from New York to San Francisco in 59 days. Im Sheila - a wife, mom to 3, and favorite human of a slightly-neurotic dog. [Horatio Nelson Jackson]. [6] Before reaching Cheyenne, however, the car's wheel bearings gave out, and Crocker had to talk a farmer into letting them have the wheel bearings of his mowing machine. In 1901, a much-publicized attempt by car manufacturer Alexander Winton to go from San Francisco to New York came to an unceremonious halt in a sand drift in Nevada. At first they lost their cookware, but while still in California, Jackson also lost his glasses. Alturas, California. Having no mechanical experience, Jackson convinced a young mechanic and chauffeur, Sewall K. Crocker, to serve as his travel companion, mechanic, and backup driver. Jackson died on January 14, 1955 in Burlington, Vermont and was buried in the Lakeview Cemetery there. My darling Swipes. After 63 days on the road, the expedition reached New York. ", Bud, wrote Jackson, was "the one member of (our) trio who used no profanity on the entire trip.". Horatio's Journey. Horatio Nelson Jackson departed San Francisco on May 23rd, 1903 for what was to become America's first ever road trip - and all because of a 50 dollar bet made just 5 days prior. In addition to the effect the rough roads had on their possessions, it also took its toll on the Winton and their equipment. (You can see a few clips on the PBS website.) Its not until they reach Iowa that they finally begin to travel at a decent unimpeded speed, averaging nearly 150 miles per day. Occasionally horses and cars gave her Both Packard and Oldsmobile were unable to maintain their forward progress through the tough times of the Rockies and within a month each, they eventually gave up their efforts to beat Horatio, Jackson and Bud to be the first to complete a journey across the North American continent in an automobile. The machine drove up in front of the Hotel Lakeview and stopped.The Chauffeur inquired for a blacksmith shop, having had a mishap coming over the rough roads. The only mishap happened just east of Buffalo, New York, when the Vermont ran into a hidden obstacle in the road and Jackson, Crocker, and Bud were thrown from the car. At one point he was ticketed for exceeding the 6mph (9.7km/h) speed limit in Burlington. This spur-of-the-moment trip, partially based on a bet, unknowingly turned into a race. Article from American Heritage . They helped prove that long-distance road travel was a realif expensive and difficultpossibility. [7] Jackson and Crocker replaced it with the only spare they had, in fact, the only right-sized spare tire they could find in all of San Francisco. In the spring of 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson became the first person to cross the United States in a car, following portions of what is now US 30 in Idaho and Wyoming. I feel confident we can make it.How I wish you were with me & that it was possible for you to take the tripWith a barrel full [of love], I am, as always, yours.Nelson. "Everyone pooh- poohed the idea of even attempting such a journey.". Jackson's trip started in a hastily purchased Winton that he named the "Vermont" four days after he made the bet. There had to be an easier way to win a $50 bet. Generally speaking, America in 1903 hadno roadsbetween cities, towns, or any other landmarks for that matter. Horatio Nelson Jackson died on January 14, 1955, at the age of 82. Our experts bring you content that exemplifies life in the North American Western States and Provinces. Jackson and Crocker replaced it with the only spare they had, which by the way, happened to be the only right-sized spare tire they could find before they left. The idea of driving across the country captured the imagination of millions of Americans. Just as soon as I can get decent tires we will make a record run. Steve Perkins, Executive Director of the Vermont Historical Society, gives us a little background, before launching into the fascinating story of Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson. The trip, sparked by a $50 gentlemen's wager, took 63 days. "At the time they made the trip, there was a perception that the American frontier was closed. I explained to them that the next stop was twelve miles away and that if they would help us out I would take their baggage in for them. On their arrival, the mud besmirched and travel stained vehicle which had borne them so faithfully and sturdily over fifty-six hundred miles of roads between the Pacific and the Atlantic was housed in a garage in West 58th Street. The list price 100 years ago for Jackson's 1903 Winton Touring Car was $2,500, about $50,000 in today's money. With 146 illustrations and 1 map Read more Print length 192 pages Language English His wife, though supportive of the trip, opted for a much easier train ride home to Vermont. The next day they arrived in Ontario, Oregon, where supplies waited for them. After twomore days ofplanning and preparation, the two began their unbelievable impromptu journey eastwardtowards New York City. Broke down again, Jackson rented a bicycle from a nearby rancher, rode the 25 miles back to town, suffered his own flat tire, and eventually returned with the fuel. Funding provided by General Motors, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, and the Park Foundation. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. He was in San Francisco on vacation with his wife when, while sharing a few beers with some friendly strangers at the local University Club, he insisted that he had what it took to drive a car across the US. Sponsored by the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the trip began and ended in New The press came out at every stop to take their picture and conduct interviews. I asked her. Or sometimes I just need to, Read More The Right Word Peter Roget and His ThesaurusContinue, If youve never heard of Snowflake Bentley, then Ive got a treat for you! With lots of love to all I am yours.NelsonP.S. [6] When their tires blew out they were required to wind rope around the wheels. [12] While attached to the 313th Infantry, 79th Division as a surgeon, Jackson was wounded near Montfaucon during the MeuseArgonne Offensive. While it was neither, the people's curiosity had been aroused from a report that an automobile was coming this way, and that if they wished to see it pass it was necessary to have a seat in the front row, otherwise it might go through at the rate of 90 miles an hour, and would be out of sight before they could run a block.It drove in sight at just 4 o'clock and the crowds surged forward to get a first look at a real live auto, a machine that nine-tenths of the people of Lake county had never seen. Sign up for my occasional email updates! The way the streets of Lakeview were lined with people Tuesday afternoon, one would think a circus was coming to town, or a 4th of July procession was about to pass. I am tired & got to get up early in the morning & damn anxious to get you in my arms. Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip TV Movie 2003 TV-G 1 h 47 m IMDb RATING 8.0 /10 546 YOUR RATING Rate Documentary Adventure History The saga of Horatio Nelson Jackson, the first man to cross the United States by automobile--in 1903! It was for $50 and made on the spur of the moment, over drinks at the San. . [13], Jackson's military awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Honour, and the Croix de Guerre. Keep in mind that most of what we knew about getting around the countryside at this time was oriented around the range of travel comfortable for your horse which on average was onlyabout 10-20 miles. Of course, these guidebooks were only published in the more-populated East at the time. We focus on Mountain and Action Sports, Travel, Recreation, and the inspirational personalities that make up the New North American Western Lifestyle. Even before we had cars, Americans have been drawn out to explore the unknown horizons. Bud was a young, light-colored bulldog who immediately added life to the journey. In 1916, a car covered its entire length in just 5 days so much faster than that first trip across the country! Horatio Nelson Jacksons road trip occasionally picked up help from more traditional means, More trailside repairs on Horatio Nelson Jacksons 1903 Road Trip, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). and their dog Bud made the first successful transcontinental automobile trip. Soon after, the triowithBud sporting his fashionable goggles, began to accumulate some fame along their journey. All Rights Reserved. On July 21, they set out from Cleveland, Ohio, to finish the last leg of the journey. Those who had seen automobiles mostly complained about the noise and dust they caused and their tendency to spook horses. The experiences and adventures of the trip have been of an exciting nature, which may be better understood when it is known that he traveled 3,000 miles through a country never before touched by an automobile. Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History, NearSoda Springs in Caribou County, Idaho , Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 22, 2017. The film features many old songs, framed by a popular number from 1914 called "He'd Have to Get Under Get Out and Get Under (to Fix Up His Automobile)". Heeding the failed attempt by automobile pioneer Alexander Winton (founder of the Winton Motor Carriage Company, which manufactured Jackson's car) to cross the deserts of Nevada and Utah, Jackson decided to take a more northerly route through the Sacramento Valley and along the Oregon Trail. In those days, almost all of the paved roads were in cities, and most people traveled no more than 12 miles from their homes. On July 12, the two men and the dog arrived in Nebraska where they found themselves back on paved roads. Subsequently, their mileage took a sharp increase andtheir rate of trail damage sharply decreased. He was frightening horses. The Winton Motor Carriage Company published details about the Jackson-Crocker cross-country trip and emphasized the cars ruggedness and reliability. The rough and tumble wagon trails which they followed, combined with the noisiness of their Winton, rendered them unable to tell when they would lose valuable items off the back of the car. All day yesterday it was visited by admiring automobilists, and curious passersby peeped in upon it. As Burke and Richardson drove around the country, overcoming the challenges of rough roads and mechanical breakdowns, they showed that women could be at home in the masculine domain of machines. Explore the Winton touring car, which Jackson took on his historic trip. On the second night, they stopped early in Sacramento and replaced them with a large spotlight mounted on the front of the Vermont. Following the railroad would also make it easier to access supplies along the way. Another brother, Hollister Jackson, served as Lieutenant governor of Vermont. Youre going to love it here. The Jackson party left Chicago at noon Saturday and arrived in Cleveland at 5:00 p.m. Monday, remarkably good time for notoriously bad roads which had been rendered worse by continued hard rains. My sense of humor gets me through life. Dr. Jackson started his trek in San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car he called "Vermont" (honoring the state in which he and his wife Bertha lived), and the final destination was Burlington, Vermont. Watch me now come to you.Nel. The further they pushed on through Idaho and Wyoming, the more it seemed that the team would actually make it. African American History Curatorial Collective. The jaunt will not only be a trip back in history, but a clash of early 20th and 21st century technologies. View my full disclosure. Film-maker Ken Burns presents the hilarious 1903 saga of the first transcontinental automobile trip. Horatio Jackson's Winton in the Smithsonian, 5. Here they prepare to light the acetylene gas headlamps. But still, troubles continued to plague Horatio and Jackson. Jackson and his wife planned to return to their Burlington, Vermont, home in a few days, and both had been taking automobile driving lessons while in San Francisco. They are all like a lot of kids I have made arrangements to have the Winton agent at New York to take you up the Hudson to meet me. Horatio's Drive is a co-production of Florentine Films and WETA. This allowed them to avoid the higher passes in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. He bought a slightly used, two-cylinder,[4] 20hp[5] Winton, which he named the Vermont, after his home state, bade his wife goodbye, and left San Francisco on May 23, carrying coats, rubber protective suits, sleeping bags, blankets, canteens, a water bag, an axe, a shovel, a telescope, tools, spare parts, a block and tackle, cans for extra gasoline and oil, a Kodak camera, a rifle, a shotgun, and pistols.[6]. We only made 45 miles in our direct route. This they consented to do and in about an hour we were on our way again. All Rights Reserved. Louise Davis wrote of their attempt, The automobile is a treacherous animal for a long trip.. He twice ran for Governor of Vermont. It was a fascinating story, full of experiences that I could totally relate to while at the same time it was an adventure I could hardly imagine. Jackson was unable to replenish the tire he blew but was however able to purchase some slightly used inner tubes. I am always amazed by the hot air balloon gondolas on display, seeing how small they are while reading, Read More A Sky Full of Adventure at the Balloon MuseumContinue, I dont know what it is about windmills, but whenever I see one of the old classic designs out on the prairie, I just want to stop and take a picture. [14][15], The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Medical Corps) Horatio N. Jackson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 313th Infantry Regiment (attached), 79th Division, A. E. F., near Montfaucon, France, September 26-29, 1918. Following the railroad right-of-way seemed the best way to go as they headed out. She returned home by train, allowing him to take his adventure by automobile. Horatio's Drive Follow the route that Horatio Nelson Jackson and his passengers took across the country. Be inspired! (2) A team of horses rescued the car from being swallowed by quicksand. Jackson, who was 31 in 1903, was undaunted by these conspicuous failures. I shall think of you a good deal tomorrow, as I always do. On our way back we were stopped by a man and asked if I didnt want a dog for a mascot. Lets follow along on his journey, shall we? Horatio's Drive America's First Road Trip In the spring of 1903, on a whim and a fifty-dollar bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the United States in the new-fangled "horseless carriage." Director Ken Burns Writer Dayton Duncan Stars Keith David (voice) Tom Hanks (voice) Adam Arkin (voice) Im laid-back, sometimes scattered, a little curious, love to laugh, and always up for a fun road trip. "Fifty dollars says I can drive a car to New York." This was quite a boast for a man without a car or mechanical knowledge. 1899 -Louise and John Davis made the first known attempt to drive a car from coast to coast. 15 miles into the journey, they blew the first of what would be many, many tires. It is generally believed that Kesling will make it farther than Jackson before the first breakdown, which happened barely 15 miles outside of San Francisco on the 1903 trip, when a tire blew. Despite mud, washouts, breakdowns, and a lack of roads and bridges in the West, they finished their trip in 63 days. Thanks! "Which way to Marysville?" Jackson's bold adventure in a horseless carriage in many ways created the America we live in today, filled with a network of highways, thousands of motels, fast-food joints at every intersection and SUVs. "[Horatio Nelson Jackson], My darling Girl: We have crossed the mountains & dont expect to come to anymore until we get into Idaho. As luck would have it, the movie was available on Amazon prime for just a few more days so I immediately added it to the top of my list. The journey became a race among three teams, the winners being Jackson and Crocker. Horatio's Drive is a co-production of Florentine Films and WETA. The technology nevertheless began to catch on, slowly. Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 - January 14, 1955) . (Hollister Jackson was serving as Lieutenant Governor of Vermont when he died in the Great Vermont Flood of 1927. The trip had to be called off after a one-armed bicyclist made up a 10- day head start from New York and passed the hapless car before it reached Syracuse. Later, somewhere in Idaho, they lost Jacksons coat which contained most of the travelers money. Questions? "That's why I'm optimistic. The fateful bet was made during a club room discussion on May 19, 1903, when Jackson and his wife were on a stopover in San Francisco after they had traveled to Mexico and Alaska looking at potential mining investments. Reaching Alturas, California, Jackson and Crocker stopped to wait for the tires. Press Clipping from Horatio Nelson Jacksons road trip across America. Until that time, the current route was but a well-traveled wagon road parallel with the Oregon Short Line railroad. This first successful cross-country road trip sealed the American love affair with the ultimate symbol of freedom the automobile. 1st auto passed thru yesterday; came via Camas Prairie and Croy Gulch to Hailey, "hence to Bellevue and on to Blackfoot." ), additional tanks to hold extra oil and gasoline for emergencies. Whether or not a bet was really made, it did happen rather suddenly. Challenged by a sales manager for Maxwell automobiles, , Read More Who was Snowflake Bentley?Continue. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, the trio took a short break as they waited for more money to come through the wire, and repaired yet another mechanical failure, this time to the wheel bearings. This is a bad start for our first eleven days out. At Hailey, Idaho, Crocker wired the Winton Motor Carriage Company for more parts, which, combined with the increasing press coverage, spurred the Winton car company to step up their support efforts since to them it meant an increased positive image of the company. Doctors were outnumbered by blacksmiths and most Americans rarely traveled than twelve miles from home because that was the distance a horse-and-wagon could cover to take them out and back home again in a single day. more than 30 times. 2023 Behind Every Day - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. , At the time of Horatio Jackson's trek, only 150 miles of paved road existed in the country, and gas stations and road maps were non-existent. Pin it so that others can experience the first American cross-country road trip and compare it to some of their own adventures! A map of Horatio's route and his 63-day itinerary The Gear After removing the backseat to make room for more gear, they packed the following items to begin the long journey: sleeping bags cooking gear rubber mackintoshes for themselves and the car (remember - no roof, no windshield!) "From Sea to Sea in a Horseless Carriage", Dr. H.N. After driving the distance, they moved the path back in front of the car, repeating the process until they cleared the area. Horatio's Drive is the first chapter in our nation's great romance with the road. "In the last three months I've been driving it every day in preparation for the trip and every day something breaks," Kesling said. "The rubber tires on the machine were somewhat worn and a new supply was ordered from the East by telegraph to be sent to this place. He owned a newspaper, a bank andradio station WCAX (nowWVMT). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Sign up to get updates about the film and future projects from Ken Burns and Florentine Films. (c) 2014 Re:West Media House, LLC. Last summer I received a letter that had been carried by the Pony Express. His arrival in New York City, after every imaginable breakdown and delay, proved that the "horseless . By all accounts,Horatios bet was one made in the innocence of drunken exuberance. Jackson was unable to buy a new tire, but purchased some used inner tubes. And no, it hadnt been lost for 158 years. This added several hundred miles to their route but they hoped to avoid the problems that Alexander Winton had faced in the desert sands of Nevada. Finally, the end is in sight! (4) The men created a 100-foot path of sagebrush so the car could drive over the sandy soil. Copyright20062023,Somerightsreserved. At this point, the trio became celebrities. They include: Archival footage of Horatio Nelson Jackson is included. In Caldwell, Idaho, they met a man who offered them a dog as a mascot. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Ill admit, I hadnt given it much thought myself despite my own epic road trip history. Horatio Nelson Jackson was a physician from Vermont who married Bertha Wells, the daughter of the richest man in Vermont. Indeed had a flying machine lit down in their midst it would not have created greater astonishment. Together, both events would dramatically alter the course of exploration and adventure for the next century.
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