Eisenhower Did Just About the Worst Damn Road Trip, Ever

Atlas Obscura has a fine, fine retelling of former President Dwight Eisenhower’s treacherous slog across the U.S. in 1919, presumably before Google Maps could tell him where to go.

His 62-day, transcontinental epoch may have served as inspiration for the creation of America’s interstate highway system — not the threat of a nuclear attack and evacuation of America’s major cities, apparently — later on during his presidency.

Among the highlights: 6 mph traveling speed, biblical salts in Utah and misery in Nebraska. Pack a lunch for the long read, because it’s entertaining.

Eisenhower’s trip between Washington D.C. and San Fransisco wasn’t exactly a pleasure cruise. The convoy of 80 trucks was assembled to show the rest of the country its mechanical might after the Army returned from World War I.

The team traveled across the Lincoln Highway, which was America’s only real transcontinental route. The highway became much more of a suggestion west of Nebraska, and by Utah the route had disappeared altogether.

The team traveled the distance in 62 days, which was 6 days longer than anticipated.

Today, traveling between San Francisco and Washington D.C. via Interstate 80 would take roughly 42 hours, according to Google Maps.

The modern-day I-80 is the road that most closely traces the original Lincoln Highway, and was part of the initial Interstate Highway System approved by Eisenhower in 1956. The last portion of I-80 was finished in 1986 in Utah.

(H/T to TTAC reader David for sending this in.)

(Photos from the Eisenhower Archive)

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