First Transcontinental Motor Convoy

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The first transcontinental motor convoy began on July 7, 1919 with 295 people riding in 79 vehicles. This convoy was an experiment for both the vehicles and the recruits, testing the dependability of a variety of army vehicles and their operators in different conditions.

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Photo Courtesy of The Lincoln Highway Digital Image Collection Transportation History Collection University of Michigan Library (Special Collections Research Center)

It was not an easy trip. Many of the men were poor drivers, causing delays. As they traveled west, the driving improved but roads became much worse. The biggest issue was the poorly built bridges which could not support the military trucks, like the one pictured here. The convoy had to rebuild over 100 bridges the trucks broke through.

That being said, it wasn't all dreary. Everywhere the convoy stopped, they were greeted with cheers and parties. Fallon was no different. Check out how they celebrated (as with other images, click for a better view): 

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Naturally, festivities included the famous Hearts of Gold Cantaloupes!

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Note the clear, recognizable Lincoln Highway logo compared with the much more complex seal on the medallion.

It took 62 days for the convoy to complete the trip. The travel weary men arrived in San Francisco, California on September 6th, 1919 where they were greeted with cheers and banquets. The participants were rewarded with medals, like this one.

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The First Trans-Continental Army Convoy, Courtesy of The Lincoln Highway Digital Image Collection, Transportation History Collection, University of Michigan Library (Special Collections Research Center)

This journey proved how valuable highways could be to the military, but also demonstrated that they needed significant funding. Future president Dwight D. Eisenhower went on the trip and his experience informed his support of the Federal Highway Act of 1956, which created the modern interstate system.