Sign up to get updates about the film and future projects from Ken Burns and Florentine Films. Please give my best love to your mother & tell [my] father & mother that I love them as much as ever. From there on, they were able to use a few paved roads, and their trip was much easier. )[11], A longtime member of the Vermont National Guard when World War I broke out, Jackson was considered too old for active service, but he contacted former President Theodore Roosevelt (whom he had met at some point in Burlington), through whose influence Jackson was placed on active duty as a captain in the Medical Corps. Hi! At first they lost their cookware, but while still in California, Jackson also lost his glasses. Jackson (at the wheel) enlisted Sewall Crocker as his mechanic and co-driver, and bought a used Winton touring car. We buried our car completely in one and after working a half-day to get it out again, three Italians came along, each packing a heavy bag. By 1900, he had given up his medical practice and was happily spending his wife Bertha's money on property, travel, horses and, most recently, automobiles. They left from New York and traveled so slowly that a one-armed bicyclist who started 10 days after them passed them before they made it to Syracuse at which point they abandoned the attempt. A broken mud guard and a sprung front axle alone attested the hard knocks it had had on its long journey. 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. Once underway again, it was only 3 days later that they ran out of oil. $8,000 on the trip, including hotel rooms, gasoline, tires, parts, supplies, food, and the cost of the Winton. 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. Horatio Nelson Jackson died on January 14, 1955, at the age of 82. Its not until they reach Iowa that they finally begin to travel at a decent unimpeded speed, averaging nearly 150 miles per day. [citation needed]. 2023 Behind Every Day - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. Western roads were still unimproved in 1909 when Alice Huyler Ramsey drove across the country. While crossing the Rocky Mountains, they were moving boulders by hand out of their path. [1] His siblings included John Holmes Jackson, who served several terms as mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Explore the Winton touring car, which Jackson took on his historic trip. In 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson single handedly silenced a conversation taking place at the San Francisco University Club. Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 - January 14, 1955) was an American physician and automobile pioneer. The family all turned out to stare at us and told us we'd have to go back.We went back, and met the red-haired young woman again. [10] Their trip expended over 800 US gallons (3,000L) of gasoline. Following the war, he became one of the founders of theAmerican Legion, and twice ran forGovernor of Vermont. This physical limitation defined the spaces people occupied at the last turn of the century and made wandering beyond these informal limits rare and difficult. They removed the backseat to make more room for gear and spare parts. The list price 100 years ago for Jackson's 1903 Winton Touring Car was $2,500, about $50,000 in today's money. There are no maps, no roads, no repair shops. Keep reading The Pony Express is a well-known American mail delivery service of the early 1860s. This spur-of-the-moment trip, partially based on a bet, unknowingly turned into a race. He also had the sense to hire a good bicycle-turned-car mechanic in Crocker. , 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. Both the Packard and Oldsmobile companies sent their respective automobiles from California with hope of passing Jackson and claiming the title for first automobile to travel across the U.S. , It took 63 days to complete the journey, during which the trek merged with present-day Highway 30 near Pocatello, Idaho, and followed it into Soda Springs, Idaho, and finally into Granger, Wyoming. Enter Horatios Drive: Americas First Road Trip, a documentary produced by Ken Burns. Peter Kesling, 71, an orthodontist and antique auto museum owner from La Porte, Ind., has a good idea of what might be in store Tuesday when he climbs aboard his own 1903 Winton and starts out to duplicate the historic feat. This we did the result being that we ran across the desert to Swanton Falls a distance, out of our way, 38 miles. Generally speaking, America in 1903 hadno roadsbetween cities, towns, or any other landmarks for that matter. This first successful cross-country road trip sealed the American love affair with the ultimate symbol of freedom the automobile. The party went to the Hollenden Hotel for a clean-up and for supper while the faithful bull dog mascot remained in charge and fought flies and kept off inquisitive newsboys. 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 press came out at every stop to take their picture and conduct interviews. Horatio, Jackson and Bud Passing through town. Take good care of yourself & dont worry. My answer would probably be computer. Horatio's Drive is the first chapter in our nation's great romance with the road. When we get there the worst will be over.I can run the car as well as Crocker & have rather surprised him We take 2 hours on and 2 off at the wheel. Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use). Many days of the journey, especially in the beginning, were spent parked in a town awaiting replacement parts to arrive via stagecoach or train so they they could continue on. The automobile with Jackson and Crocker, crossing the continent, which left here Thursday was badly smashed up twelve miles east of this city on a smooth road while running twenty five miles an hour. Soon enough though, while traveling though the alkali flats of eastern Oregon and Idaho, they noticed that the harsh environment irritated Buds eyes. Items continued to be lost, including another pair of Jackson's glasses. ", "Col. Nelson Jackson: The Man Who Spent $8,000 to Win a $50 Bet" Martin Sheridan. 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. Article from American Heritage . Data by OpenStreetMap, under CC BY SA. Sign up for my occasional email updates! When the Winton needed repairs, they telegraphed the factory for parts and awaited delivery by railroad. Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 January 14, 1955) was an American automobile pioneer. (2) A team of horses rescued the car from being swallowed by quicksand. Between June 20 and 21, all three of them got lost in Wyoming, and went without food for 36 hours before finding a sheepherder who gave them a meal of roast lamb and boiled corn. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- On May 23, 1903, Horatio Nelson Jackson was just two days into his grand adventure of becoming the first person . H. Nelson Jackson, a physician and businessman from Burlington, Vermont, captured the nations attention when he and Sewall K. Crocker, a mechanic, drove from Our experts bring you content that exemplifies life in the North American Western States and Provinces. A few companies had started to put out guidebooks with detailed instructions on how to get from one town to the next. But if there was one thing Horatio had, it was a steadfast commitment to the dream. After removing the backseat to make room for more gear, they packed the following items to begin the long journey: Unfortunately, a lot of their gear bounced out the back as they drove without them realizing it and several things were lost including two pairs of Jacksons eyeglasses. His siblings included John Holmes Jackson, who served several terms as mayor of Burlington, Vermont. But when he, his mechanic, Sewall Crocker, and American bulldog Bud arrived in New York, a new era in American transportation had begun. The possibilities of the open road What natural wonder will we see today? A stop of two days was made here to await their arrival, and on Tuesday morning the adventurous travelers resumed their journey.". His wife, though supportive of the trip, opted for a much easier train ride home to Vermont. Wilson Alwyn Bentley was born on February 9, 1865, in Jericho, Vermont. The film is based on the book of the same name by Dayton Duncan. At Mountain Home, Idaho, citizens warned them that the Oregon Trail was not good further east, so Jackson and Crocker veered off their original course along the southern edge of the Sawtooth Mountains. Reaching Alturas, California, Jackson and Crocker stopped to wait for the tires. Despite mud, washouts, breakdowns, and a lack of roads and bridges in the West, they finished their trip in 63 days. Jackson was one of the founders of the American Legion Department of Vermont. Just 4 days after declaring his intentions, he had found a car and a chauffeur. One hundred years later, another doctor is following in Jackson's patched tire tracks. Despite mud, washouts, breakdowns, and a lack of roads and bridges in the West, they finished their trip in 63 days. A former U.S. Forest Service firefighter, he has traveled extensively and covered a wide variety of issues during his career, including the Beijing Olympics, Hurricane Katrina, illegal American tourism in Cuba and a 40-day cross country car trip commemorating the history of automobile travel in America. 2023 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Between 1909 and 1975, Ramsey drove across the country 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. , The route of US 30 traces its origin to the early 1900s. My darling Swipes,Just a line to say that I am still alive Our things arrived this morning & we held divine services in the Blacksmith shop. If you click & make a purchase, I receive a commission! I am tired & got to get up early in the morning & damn anxious to get you in my arms. I go from here to Buffalo.I am tired & got to get up early in the morning & [I am] damn anxious to get you in my arms. When Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson wagered in May 1903 that he could drive from San Francisco to New York in 90 days, there were only 150 miles of paved road in the entire country. They often When night came on we made camp beside the car, and having lost our cooking outfit and provisions, and [it] being an uninhabited region went to bed without any supper. 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. Making matters worse, these trails were generally considered informaland werent typically mapped with any senseof care or accuracy. Sewall K. Crocker Sewall K. Crocker, a 22-year-old former professional bicycle racer from Tacoma, Washington, was working in. . He twice ran for Governor of Vermont. (You can see a few clips on the PBS website.) ", Jackson had wanted a dog along on the trip and purchased the American bulldog, Bud, in Caldwell, Idaho. Then the caption about the first ever cross-country road trip sealed the deal. My darling Swipes,We expected our express on No. It is displayed with reproductions of supplies and equipment that the men carried. The journey became a race among three teams, the winners being Jackson and Crocker. Jackson, who was 31 in 1903, was undaunted by these conspicuous failures. In 1916, suffragists Nell Richardson and Alice Burke, with their cat Saxon, drove across and around the country to drum up support for voting rights for women. "Why did you send us way down there?" The axle crank and two connecting rods broke and they had to send to the Cleveland factory to replace them. Browse letters written by Horatio Nelson Jackson to his wife while on the road, and newspaper articles written about Jackson's epic trip. Be inspired! Horatio Nelson Jackson departed San Francisco onMay 23rd, 1903 for what was to become Americas first ever road trip and all because of a 50 dollar bet made just 5 days prior. When the tires failed to materialize, however, they continued on after a three-day wait. 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]. "Horacio was the big guy on the road with a brand new car. Two other motoring partieseach anxious to claim the title of first to drive across countrydeparted while Jackson attended the schools of Toronto and Toronto's collegiate institute. Way out West: H. Nelson Jackson at the wheel of his Winton. At their next stop, Jackson had to wire his wife to send them money to Cheyenne, Wyoming. We leave in the morning for Oroville the last railway point we will have until we strike Ontario, [Oregon]. Source: 'The Mad Doctor's Drive,' by Ralph Nading Hill; 'Winton 1903,' by Peter C. Kesling. At the next available stop they outfitted Bud with a pair of goggles which Bud wore without fuss for most of the rest of the journey. Finally, the end is in sight! But relief would not comfort them since they soon heard that competing corporate sponsored teams from both Packard and Oldsmobile were chasing them down hoping to steal the crown of first across the US in a motor car. Packard had secretly been planning their journey for months before Horatios fateful 50 dollar bet, and Oldsmobile had hoped to show the world what assembly line manufactured cars were capable of. His enthusiasm was matched only by his underestimate of the effort needed to accomplish the journey. Hi, Im Sheila laid-back, sometimes creative, a little curious, and always ready for a last-minute adventure. The threat of the other teams would spur Jackson and Horatio on, pushing them to step up their pace across the unending Great Plains of Nebraska and beyond. My darling Swipes. Having resupplied the best they could, they struck back out onto the open roader,open range. Horatio's Drive Follow the route that Horatio Nelson Jackson and his passengers took across the country. Want to know what happened? Proper roads were so few and far between at this point, that there were no maps. When Im writing something, I want to use the perfect word to get my meaning across. Jackson and Crocker face obstacle after obstacle on their trip. The trip began after a discussion in a San Francisco mens club as to the feasibility of a transcontinental auto crossing. THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL AUTOMOBILE ROAD TRIP In 1903, a man named Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson became the first person to drive across the country, from coast to coast. 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! Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 - January 14, 1955) . "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. Jackson was unable to replenish the tire he blew but was however able to purchase some slightly used inner tubes. The jaunt will not only be a trip back in history, but a clash of early 20th and 21st century technologies. Churning dust irritated Buds eyes, and Jackson purchased this pair of goggles for him. Car: 1903 Winton two-seat touring car No. Crocker made repairs, but a fuel leak caused them to lose all of their available gasoline, and Jackson rented a bicycle for Crocker to travel 25 miles (40km) to Burns, Oregon, for fuel. Very few of our citizens had ever seen this, one of the wonders of the century, and large crowds gazed with curious interest at the horseless wagon. We shall try & get away tonight. At Mountain Home, Idaho they veered from the Oregon Trail for the first time since near the California border and turned south glancing by the southern edge of the Sawtooth Mountains. 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. The documentary has a companion book and audiobook, Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip, authored by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns, published by Knopf in 2003. Just as soon as I can get decent tires we will make a record run. 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. He is a mighty good man.I am fine and the only trouble is I miss you so.Nelson, We met a red-haired young woman riding along on a white horse. 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! On July 12, the two men and the dog arrived in Nebraska where they found themselves back on paved roads. Peter Fimrite is The Chronicle's lead science reporter, covering environmental, atmospheric and ecosystem science. [13], Jackson's military awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Honour, and the Croix de Guerre. Jackson described the mostly unmarked paths he was forced to bounce over as "a compound of ruts, bumps and thank-you-marms.". Automobiles were in their infancy: The first American car had been produced only 10. Jackson is a "wealthy Vermont gentleman" who bet $3,000 on trip. 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]. Keep reading to find out more Which came first, the snow or the passion? We had no trouble in crossing railroad bridges With practice, bumping over bridge ties is no great task. His traveling companions were Sewall K. Crocker and a bulldog, Bud. He was frightening horses. . They would finally begin to make up much needed time after so many days spent waiting for parts, repairs and money back in the Rocky Mountain high country. An article in the. Touch for map. Yet the young retired doctor, along with a mechanical assistant and a dog, took up the . Have you ever wondered about the first cross-country road trip? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. more than 30 times. Tom Hanks provided the voice-over narration for Horatio Nelson Jackson. Jackson was possessed of a deep thirst for adventure, and his remarkable story chronicles the very beginning of the restless road trips that soon became a way of life in America. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. (Hollister Jackson was serving as Lieutenant Governor of Vermont when he died in the Great Vermont Flood of 1927. At this point, the trio became celebrities. 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. The Pres of the firm with his associates came out & we had quite a procession into the city. 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. she drove a Maxwell touring car from New York to San Francisco in 59 days. As the nineteenth century came to an end, there were only 8,000 cars in the United States compared to 14 million horses. Somewhere along this route, Jackson lost a pair of his glasses. The trip took 64 days, including numerous delays while the two men waited for parts or paused to hoist the Winton up and over a gully.